NRA Show Blog

Restaurant Industry Ahead of Social Media Curve

 

A couple of weeks ago, we at SmartBrief embarked on a large-scale research project in the game-changing area of social media for business#

Working with highly respected B2B research firm Summus, our intent is to create a definitive “State of Social Media for Business” research report that will be updated at least annually to provide a unique look at how companies are adapting to and benefiting from online technologies over time#

A total of 5,500 professionals across all industries have participated in our study so far, and the findings that have emerged about how businesses are using social media now — and want to be in the future — are fascinating.

Some restaurant-specific data to whet your whistle:

- Restaurants are ahead of the curve: 81% are currently using social media, compared with 60% in other industries.
- Facebook is a key platform: only 3% of responding restaurateurs don’t use it.
- Twitter is underutilized: 28.13% of restaurants say they don’t use it.
- While not a major presence yet, Foursquare is more important to restaurants than other industries.
 - 52% of restaurants have seen more positive mentions as a result of their social-media presence.

This Father's Day: Real Men Love Chocolate

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Whether your dad is a serious chocolate connoisseur or simply loves sweets, Fort Myers, Fla.-based Norman Love Confections® handcrafted, gourmet chocolates is a great way to say “I love you” this Father’s Day.

These delish chocolates in 36 signature flavors, in addition to the five single-origin all-dark-chocolate confections in the BLACK collection, S’more Love and special holiday collections will have your dad talking about more than just his golf game.

Their gift boxes provide an assortment of dark, milk and white gourmet chocolate confections – don’t worry, sugar-free selections are also available – in quantities of 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 pieces. A comprehensive list of the chocolate flavors is available online.

Gift baskets include the Chocolate Lovers Gift Basket, as well as the Euro-Style Sipping Chocolate Basket and Dark Chocolate Deluxe Gift Basket featuring the ultra-premium BLACK dark chocolate line.

This Father’s Day, real men really do love chocolate.

Blogger’s note: Normal Love Confections exhibits at the National Restaurant Association's annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show under the Swiss Chalet Fine Foods.

NRA Show Exhibitors Donate Nearly 52,000 Meals to Hungry

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Hundreds of 2010 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show exhibiting companies donated enough surplus food for nearly 52,000 meals through the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) last month. NRA Show 2010, which was held May 22-25 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, and GCFD have partnered to facilitate food donations from the event for more than 20 years.

“The support of the National Restaurant Association helps us provide food for thousands of men, women and children,” said Kate Maehr, executive director of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. “Our statistics show that we now serve 678,000 people in Cook County every year. We can respond to heightened demand because of partners like the National Restaurant Association.”

The donated food was distributed through a network of more than 600 qualified GCFD member agencies, which include pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, day care centers and senior living facilities throughout the Chicago area.

Here is a calendar of upcoming events benefiting GCFD.

25th Annual Hunger Walk, June 26
Taste of Chicago, June 25 through July 4
Making Music Matter, now through September

Last year, the Food Depository distributed 58 million pounds of nonperishable food and fresh produce, dairy products and meat, the equivalent of 119,000 meals every day. The Food Depository’s programs and services for children, older adults and the unemployed and underemployed address the root causes of hunger. For more information, log onto www.chicagosfoodbank.org or call 773-247-FOOD.

Greater Chicago Food Depository is a member of Feeding Illinois™ and Feeding America®.

The Power of Your Show's Blog

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Center for Exhibition Industry Research's CEIR Blog gives nod to the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event's very own blog Floored!

Read all about The Power of Your Show's Blog.

Restaurant industry's performance index stands strong

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Restaurant Association's latest Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) remained in positive territory.

Watch a video of the Association's very own "facts master" Hudson Riehle providing a state of the industry and April RPI update.  

Along with the industry's positive outlook for sales and the economy, the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 attracted 6% more attendees from all 50 states and more than 120 countries over last year.

NRA Show Stages Industry's First Flash Mob Dance | ExpoWeb.com

NRA Show Stages Industry's First Flash Mob Dance | ExpoWeb.com.

NRA Show Stages Industry's First Flash Mob Dance | ExpoWeb.com

Save the Date: NRA Show 2011

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

We had so much fun at the 2010 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, we decided to do it again next year. Get ready for it!

Visit the NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (set for May 22-23, 2011) Web sites for more information and updates.