NRA Show Blog

Restaurant sales, job growth advance in 2011

The National Restaurant Association's Senior Vice President of Research & Knowledge Hudson Riehle summarizes the newly released 2011 Restaurant Industry Forecast.

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Restaurant industry sales are expected to reach a record $604 billion and post positive growth in 2011 after a three-year period of negative real sales growth, according to the National Restaurant Association 2011 Restaurant Industry Forecast. Sales are projected to advance 3.6 percent over 2010 sales.

"As the national economy is slowly improving, the restaurant industry is climbing out of its most challenging period in decades to post positive real sales growth in 2011. As in 2010, restaurant industry job growth is expected to outpace the national economy this year, emphasizing the importance of industry to the nation's economy,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association.

Sales at the nation's 960,000 restaurants represent 4 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, and restaurant employees comprise nearly 10 percent of the U.S. workforce. Restaurants are the nation's second-largest private sector employer with 12.8 million employees.

Quickservice restaurants are projected to post sales of $167.7 billion this year, a gain of 3.3 percent over 2010. Sales at fullservice restaurants are projected to reach $194.6 billion in 2011, an increase of 3.1 percent in current dollars over 2010.

Employment Outlook
The industry will add jobs at a rate of 2.4 percent, compared with the 1.8 percent expected for the national economy. In the next decade, the industry will add 1.3 million positions.

The international foodservice marketplace welcomes the world

By Tatiana Vieira, International Contributor

In this day and age, life is hectic and as the new insight report from Wharton says: we are on the move and we need to adapt to a new global economy. It's not only the reports elaborated by great thinkers that highlight a more competitive future; players in the restaurant industry are entering new markets every day. This past week The Cheesecake Factory announced its first international expansion, highlighting its plan to open 22 new stores in the Middle East.

In another article, Robert Neuwirth described how businesses in the African meta city of Lagos, Nigeria are becoming global and receiving products from many countries, including the U.S. How can restaurant operators in the Middle East, Africa and all around the world survive and thrive if they are not in tune to what is happening in the U.S. marketplace?

Team "Iron Chefs" swings into action for IAEE wiffle ball tournament

Top row (l - r): Brian Moon, Christine Paplaczyk, Kara Stahl & Alex Kessler. Bottom row (l - r): Matt Simons, Rosemary Murphy, Patti Beese & Lisa Goecke

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The International Association of Exhibitions and Events Midwestern Chapter will host its third annual wiffle ball tournament tonight at McCormick Place – Lakeside Center, Hall D.

Participating teams in this year’s tournament include:

• National Restaurant Association "Iron Chefs" (what can we say, we’re in it to win it on behalf of the entire restaurant and foodservice industry!)
• Global Experience Specialists
• McCormick Place/Chicago Convention & Toursim Bureau
• onPeak – official housing partner of the 2011 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (set for May 21-24 at Chicago’s McCormick Place)
• Shepard
• Valley Expo & Displays

Chicago restaurants seeing Michelin Guide stars

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Two Chicago restaurants earned three stars in the first-ever MICHELIN Guide Chicago 2011: Alinea and L2O. Three stars are a coveted symbol of exceptional dining; only 93 restaurants worldwide currently hold three Michelin stars. Three restaurants earned two stars: Avenues, Charlie Trotter’s and Ria. Eighteen restaurants earned one star. The full list of star recipients appears below.

“Michelin is showing the world what Chicago residents already know – this is one of the finest cities in the world to eat,” said Jean-Luc Naret, director of the MICHELIN Guides. “Chicago is the beneficiary of a truly innovative spirit among chefs, who are willing to push culinary limits at all levels. The chefs in Chicago are among the world’s most creative.”

Dining, fun and adventure await Chicago show goers

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Alright, so you’ve checked off registering at the "early bird" price for the 2011 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show or the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event (IWSB registration also opens the door to NRA Show). Not already registered? Get on it, that discounted registration pricing is available for a limited time only - make yourself look like a cost-savings hero to your boss. 

And, fingers, toes and eye balls crossed, you booked your hotel (again, hero worship factor is in full effect!) available only through onPeak, the official housing partner of NRA Show and IWSB. Now, if you’re like us, all this trip planning is sure to make you hungry.

Good thing Chicago’s ever-evolving and varied culinary scene offers something for everyone and is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

In fact, Chicago is such a food lovers’ paradise that diners face just one dilemma: How to choose from so many delicious options?

NRA Show 2010 in photos

Our fantastic team here at McCormick Place created a slideshow of images from NRA Show 2010. We will add to it as we receive more photos from the Show floor.

See the NRA Show 2010 slideshow

McCormick Place and NRA Show Happenings

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

In follow up to this blog’s November 2009 post, here’s the latest from the “news desk.”

Floored! sat down today with Mary Pat Heftman, executive vice president of convention, National Restaurant Association to discuss recent McCormick Place and NRA Show happenings.

But first, let’s turn back time more than 60 years…after all, that’s when the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show (NRA Show) first rolled into Chicago (although, this blockbuster show has been around for over 90 years). In 2006, the Association inked a five-year agreement to keep the NRA Show in Chicago through 2011 (which is set for May 21-24, 2011 in the Windy City!).Throughout the ages, err years, the NRA has worked proactively to make the McCormick Place experience better for exhibitors and attendees and is encouraged by recent events. 

Catering to Your Sweet Tooth

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis  Network (FAAN), nearly 13 million Americans have food allergies, and more than 3 million of them are children. That’s 1 in 25 Americans. For those with food allergies, even a trace of an allergen could be life threatening, including those delicious baked treats many of us enjoy regularly. It's hard to imagine a world without dessert.

Families often avoid ordering dessert, or may even avoid restaurants and concession stands altogether, in order to save their children the pain of feeling left out.

Jill Robbins, HomeFree™ founder, mother and clinical psychologist, turned to baking when her son was diagnosed with food allergies almost ten years ago. Before HomeFree, Robbins family would occasionally go to select restaurants, and bake treats to bring with so that her son, Bradley, could enjoy dessert time. She says it just wasn’t the same as being able to order off the menu like everyone else. However, restaurants, as you might expect, do typically go above and beyond to accommodate people living with food allergies, Robbins adds. 

Going Gluten-Free Easy As ABC

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

The National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) through the NFCA Great Association and Great Food Service will produce the first-ever Gluten-Free Showcase Pavilion at the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010, held May 22-25 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

It's no surprise to us gluten-free/food-allergy conscious meals made the top 10 of the National Restaurant Association's "What's Hot in 2010" survey of more than 1,800 American Culinary Federation chef members.

All things gluten-free (and we mean everything!), including products and activities, testing and menu investigation, flour options and final products, and distribution and packaging will be available to help restaurant industry professionals implement a proven 4-part process to serving guests gluten-free options. 

NFCA's Showcase Pavilion at NRA Show 2010 is an industry first – taking gluten-free foods mainstream, and changing the way nearly 13 million Americans suffering from celiac disease and gluten intolerance manage their health through diet and nutrition.

Stay tuned to Floored! as we bring you more details on the 12 gluten-free participants in this new pavilion. We'll also bring you tips from NFCA's very own director of education Nancy Baker in the weeks and months ahead. Our interview with Baker (she knows it all!) will make going gluten-free as easy as ABC.

For information, updates on the NRA Show's more than 65 education sessions and to register, visit www.restaurant.org/show. As always, join us on Facebook and Twitter to interact with others who love restaurants.

Restaurants Help Haiti Relief Efforts

By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Restaurants often are among the first to respond when disaster strikes, and many quickly sprung into action following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti.

The National Restaurant Association encourages restaurants across the country to support disaster-relief efforts for Haiti. From national chains to small businesses, everyone can help. We’ve heard from some of you, including the Common Man Family of Restaurants. The New Hampshire company pledged to donate 50 percent of Jan. 17 food sales to Haiti relief efforts. Common Man twice won the Association’s Restaurant Neighbor Award.

Read more about the Common’s Man’s fundraiser, as well as Yum! Brands’ $500,000 and McDonald’s (with their main Latin America operator Arcos Dorados) $1 million commitments.

Don't forget to share your Haiti disaster-relief stories with us here at the Association’s NRA Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event blog Floored! , Twitter and Facebook. Also, e-mail the Association’s Alyssa Prince at [email protected].

“I'm personally humbled by the opportunity to help in such a critical tragedy,” said mk’s executive chef and NRA Show participant Erick Williams. 

Chicago’s mk The Restaurant will be hosting a cocktail hour on Monday, Jan. 18, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to support relief for those in Haiti. Donations will be matched and all proceeds will go to Oxfam International. Also, Bleeding Heart Bakery is serving cupcakes for Haiti this weekend. All proceeds will go directly to the Red Cross.

Here are relief organizations collecting food, drinking water and money for Haitian earthquake victims:

Share Our Strength
www.strength.org
(800) 969-4767

UN World Food Programme
www.wfp.org
011-39-06-65131

Food for the Poor
www.foodforthepoor.org
(800) 427-9104

Action Against Hunger
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org
(800) REDCROSS

UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/

Doctors Without Borders
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
(888) 392-0392