Floored!, the official blog of the National Restaurant Association, Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB)

Summer heats up restaurant employment, adds 450,000 jobs

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Restaurants are expected to add 450,000 jobs over the next three months, the highest summer employment numbers since 1993 according to National Restaurant Association projections. 

“Restaurant industry employment growth will outpace overall employment growth for the 13th year in a row this year, illustrating the key role restaurants play in the nation’s economy,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the research and knowledge group for the Association.

Riehle added, “The boost of this year’s 450,000 summer jobs will propel total eating and drinking place employment to its highest on record. Overall, America’s nearly one million restaurants employ nearly 10 percent of the nation’s overall workforce.” 

Here's an infographic to tell the story (click on the image to enlarge).


Complete state-by-state 2012 projections, plus a national 10-year review, of restaurant summer employment can be found on the Association’s Website. 

Online, offline marketing helps restaurant operators find promotions "sweet spot"

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association, in concert with LivingSocial, recently fielded a study to better understand restaurant operators uses and preferences for certain marketing channels and how consumers engage and respond to them. The researching indicates that online media vehicles – Websites, email, social media, and daily deals – occupy a rightful place alongside offline or traditional marketing channels and that effective use of online media can enhance a restaurant’s brand, grow revenue, and attract new customers. Online marketing efforts also easily provide what consumers say they want in restaurant marketing materials: personalized offers and savings.

“Our new research outlines the challenges and opportunities of both offline and online marketing to help restaurant operators find the ‘sweet spot’ for promotions by identifying what consumers respond to and how various messaging vehicles are perceived," said James Balda, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the National Restaurant Association. 

VIDEO: Top Chef star Fabio Viviani's down-home cooking tips

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Italian charmer and Bravo's Top Chef superstar Chef Fabio Viviani brought his down-home take on "your grandma's cooking" to this year's National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago.

Chef Viviani, owner of several Southern California eateries, treated NRA Show attendees to a lesson in creating a fragrant poaching liquid sure to yield uber-flaky fish.

Join the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB) on Twitter @NRAShow, Facebook, Linkedin and YouTube for news and updates year-round.   

NRA Show 2012 exhibitors donate 41,000+ meals to Chicago's hungry

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Exhibiting companies at the recently wrapped 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show in Chicago donated more than 41,710 meals to the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD), resulting in nearly 5,000 more meals donated this year than in 2011. 

"We are so grateful to the National Restaurant Association and Show exhibitors for their donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository," said Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. "These donations are especially important as we serve 77 percent more people than we did four years ago."

NRA Show 2012 exhibitors donated a total of 55,614 pounds of high quality, nutritious surplus food products, which provided nearly 42,000 meals benefiting men, women and children in need throughout the Chicago area.

Rising restaurateur star, social media pro shares tips on how to build raving fans

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Consumer demand is on the rise for restaurant technology with 39 percent of adults reporting they would likely use an electronic ordering system at a fullservice restaurant, while 52 percent said they would use an electronic payment system according to National Restaurant Association research.

Restaurants nationwide are also embracing social media, as 90 percent of all operators are looking to use social-media tools for marketing purposes, and virtually all restaurateurs will be on Facebook in the next two years, with 78 percent saying they will be on Twitter.

We asked social media pro, restaurateur, author and partner Matt Bodnar at Fresh Hospitality during NRA Show 2012 in Chicago for his take and some tips on how to build a raving fan base through social media. Fresh Hospitality owns and operates six unique brands with more than 65 locations nationwide including Jim N Nick's BBQ, Taziki's, Martins BBQ, Octane Coffee, and Tellini's. His book "Location Based Marketing For Restaurants" teaches restaurant's how to use Foursquare to engage their customer base.

Bodnar led a social media-focused education session at the recently wrapped NRA Show 2012 where he and his fellow panelists shared tips on how to use social media to build raving fans of your brand - and keep them coming back for more. The panel gave restaurateurs real, concrete tools for making the most out of social media.

Here are a few tips to help restaurant operators looking to use social media for marketing purposes:

Operators say social media gets marketing message out

A majority of U.S. restaurant operators are embracing social media as the preferred method of consumer marketing, new research from the National Restaurant Association has found.

The national survey, conducted in partnership with online marketing firm LivingSocial, found that 69 percent of all operator respondents participated in social media to publicize their restaurants, while 58 percent advertised in coupon booklets, 56 percent utilized direct-to-consumer email, 53 percent advertised in their local newspapers and 45 percent placed ads on the Internet.

According to Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the NRA's Research & Knowledge Group, the use of online marketing as a communications tool will continue to grow going forward, and restaurateurs recognize its importance in attracting more customers to their respective businesses.

"More operators are seeing online marketing's strong potential to grow both revenue and customers," Riehle said. "As more tech-savvy consumers rely on computers and mobile phones to help them make their dining and entertainment choices, social media is becoming the go-to source for quick-hit information. Restaurateurs recognize this and are looking to tap into the growing trend."

Menu consultant shares thoughts on emerging trends

The past six months have been busy for new product development, according to Nancy Kruse, a menu trends expert and contributing NRA Show Floored! blog contributor who revealed her observations last week at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show.

Kruse cited examples of new items in three categories that she predicted will continue to grow, including comfort foods, food trucks, and authenticity.

In the comfort category, she said, new bread products are evolving, particularly waffles and pretzels. New versions of chicken and waffles, waffle sandwiches, upgraded Belgian waffles and savory waffles are appearing in everything from quickservice chains to fine dining restaurants, she said.

President Clinton addresses NRA Show-goers; praises collaboration

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

President Bill Clinton May 6 addressed a packed house of thousands of restaurateurs, foodservice suppliers and others attending NRA Show 2012 in Chicago, repeatedly urging cooperation and collaboration as the way to address the nation's challenges.

The former president praised the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program as an example of effective cooperation. Launched by the NRA in collaboration with Healthy Dining last summer, Kids LiveWell helps restaurateurs identify and promote healthy kids' menu options. Since the program's launch the number of participating restaurants companies has more than quadrupled.

"Thank you for all that's being done through your initiatives to help our kids have a healthier future," President Clinton said. "What works is what [restaurateurs] are doing to feed kids and help them eat healthier. What works is cooperation."

NRA Show 2012 kicks off Saturday

It’s almost here! The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel Motel Show kicks off in Chicago’s McCormick Place on Saturday, May 5th (through Tuesday, May 8). With so much excitement, here is a check list to help you experience NRA Show 2012 to the fullest.

1. Download the free NRA Show smartphone app (Android, Blackberry, and iPhone) for the easiest way to find exhibitors on your must-see list, stay up to date on events, and receive NRA Show updates. Simply search "NRA Show" in your phone's app store or download online.

2. Follow the NRA Show on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Floored! to stay up to date on all of the latest happenings! Be sure to share your experiences on Twitter using the hashtags #NRAShow and #IWSB, and post your photos and videos on our Facebook wall.

3. Join us at the National Restaurant Association/National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation booth (6600) to discover a variety of ways to help you demonstrate good corporate citizenship and give back to our dynamic industry. You can learn more about membership, our advocacy work, and NRA’s various programs, including ServSafe, EmployeeEdge, Kids LiveWell, and ProStart.

Top Chef celebs, ProStart, Kids LiveWell and EmployeeEdge take center stage at NRA Show 2012

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

With all the must-see exhibitors, education sessions, and celeb-led culinary demos on your list, don't forget to swing by the National Restaurant Association's booth (North Hall, Level 3, Booth 6600) during it's 2012 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, held at its new dates May 5-8 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

The Association's booth will feature  a variety of ways to help you demonstrate good corporate citizenship and give back to this dynamic industry. Looking for a way to say “thank you” to your employees for their hard work? EmployeeEdge may be for you (check this out - anyone who signs up on the spot for the program and goes into the cash vault will have their winnings matched)! Or perhaps you want to offer healthful options for kids and are interested in hearing more about Kids LiveWell. Maybe you’re looking for a way to mentor a student or make a significant impact on the future of the industry with ProStart (this young folks rock!). That can all happen in one place – only at the NRA Show, only at Booth 6600. 

In addition, be sure to catch Top Chef celebs Richard Blais, Spike Mendelsohn and Fabio Viviani in exciting culinary demos (at the National Restaurant Association booth) featuring ProStart students, as well as tasty demos from Sodexo (featuring kid-friendly menu items demo-ed by Chef Remmi) and Kraft.

Here's the National Restaurant Association booth schedule at a glance.