Operations

Operating a restaurant involves a lot of moving parts – most controlled by you, but many controlled by laws, regulations, licenses and permits. Alcoholic beverages, food safety, labor practices and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (the healthcare mandate) are significant – and then there is everything else.

Get to know the regulatory agencies that govern such things as sidewalk cafes, signage, noise, fire safety and more. And, get to know about the efforts being made by RAMW on your behalf to improve the regulatory environment.

Restaurant Industry Added Nearly 14k Locations in 2018

June 5, 2019

National Restaurant Association The Restaurant Industry Added More Than 10,000 Locations for the Third Consecutive Year. Driven by population growth and an expanding economy, the restaurant industry continued to add locations at a steady pace in 2018. According to new data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the restaurant industry added a net 13,817 establishments* in 2018, an increase of 2.2 percent. The 2018 expansion followed a strong net increase of 15,169 locations (+2.5 percent) in 2017, and represented the third consecutive year in which the restaurant industry grew by at least 10,...

Restaurateurs Tell White House of Health Plan Success

May 13, 2019

After years of looking for affordable insurance coverage for employees, smaller operators say it is starting to get a little easier. National Restaurant Association After years of searching for affordable ways to provide health insurance coverage to their employees, smaller restaurant operators say it is starting to get a little easier, thanks to their access to the National Restaurant Association’s ‘ Benefit Trust ’ insurance initiative. At a May 8 White House policy workshop, Roberta Montelione, chef of Milan Catering in Sarasota and Tampa, Fla., told members of the...

Addressing "Social Security No-Match Letters"

May 1, 2019

The Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed issuance of Employer Correction Request Notices, commonly referred to as “Social Security No-Match Letters.” The SSA requests responses within a 60 day period from the date on the notices. We have heard from our local members and industry counterparts in other states that many restaurants have received “Social Security No-Match Letters.” These letters should be taken seriously, and you should act accordingly. What Does This Mean For You The Social Security Administration (SSA) will send so-called ‘no-match’...

Donations of Food Inventory Equals Sizeable Charitable Deductions for Restaurants

April 22, 2019

Aronson LLC // by Aaron Boker Restaurants that donate food inventory to charitable organizations could have the opportunity to claim tax deductions for charitable contributions, which are given special and advantageous treatment by the Internal Revenue Service (IRC). According to IRC Section 170(e)(3), a taxpayer is eligible for a charitable deduction for donated “apparently wholesome food,” if the food given to the charitable organization is for the care of the ill, needy, or infants. “Apparently wholesome food” is defined as food that meets all the quality and...

Restaurateurs Converge on Washington for National Restaurant Association's Annual Public Affairs Conference

April 3, 2019

The two-day event featured policy updates from US Representatives and Senators, and conversations with political pundits. National Restaurant Association Nearly 600 industry leaders from 43 state restaurant associations converged on Capitol Hill for the National Restaurant Association’s 33 rd Annual Public Affairs Conference in Washington, DC. The two-day event, titled “Serving America’s Future, recognized our Association’s 100 th anniversary. It also featured updates from Representatives and Senators on key industry policies, conversations with political pundits, and...

How the Gig Economy is Changing How Restaurants Hire, Manage Their Workforce

April 16, 2019

SmartBrief // by Tricia Contreras A tight labor market, high employee turnover and millennials’ desire for flexible work schedules are driving some restaurant operators to change the way they hire and manage staffers. A growing wave of tech companies are building hiring platforms designed to make it easier for operators and workers to fill open shifts. “We’re playing with some of the app hiring, but in very linear sense,” Dine Brands Global Chief Information Officer Adrian Butler said during a panel discussion at the 2018 Restaurant Innovation Summit. “At some...

Where Does the Food Industry Stand On Romaine Lettuce?

April 15, 2019

SmartBrief // by Emily Crowe Romaine lettuce has proven to be a divisive product within the food industry in recent years. Following two major recalls in 2018 due to E. coli contamination, retailers and restaurants were left scrambling to get romaine off their shelves and tables while also finding replacement solutions. Growers were left in an even hairier predicament as consumers began to question the safety of not only romaine, but also other leafy greens. Three months after being given the all-clear by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the industry is dealing with the...

National Restaurant Association Releases 2019 "State of the Restaurant Industry" Report

April 8, 2019

National Restaurant Association // News The report identifies and analyzes the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants Find out what significant forces are impacting and shaping the restaurant industry, including the general US economy, workforce demographics, emerging technologies, and food and menu trends. The report analyzes the industry by service segment, customer preferences, and much more to identify the positive impacts and potential challenges coming in both tableservice and limited-service restaurants. It collects and...

DC Brau Hires Steve Carnes for New Head of Sales

March 28, 2019

DC Brewery Reshapes Sales Team with New Members and Shift in Responsibilities Washington, DC — March 2019 — DC Brau is pleased to introduce its new sales team including Stephen Carnes as Head of Sales and Stephen Taylor, Sales Manager for the Maryland and Virginia region. Kayleigh Tanthorey remains as the brewery’s Business Development Manager. “We are thrilled to welcome both Stephens to the DC Brau family,” says CEO & Co-Founder Brandon Skall. “With Steve Carnes’ extensive experience on both the distributor and sales side of the beer business,...Read more

Restaurant platform MarginEdge completes another funding raise

March 21, 2019

By Rebecca Cooper – Senior Staff Reporter, Washington Business Journal Mar 21, 2019, 1:24pm EDT Arlington restaurant software platform MarginEdge Inc. has raised $2.5 million for its next round of growth, including from a venture firm and some familiar names in the D.C. restaurant industry. The second seed round includes investments from Greg Casten of Nick’s, Tony & Joe’s and Ivy City Smokehouse; Geoff Tracy of the Chef Geoff’s Deluxe Hospitality Group; and Tim McLaughlin , founder of Caboose Brewery and GoTab. Other investors included Nigel Morris , co-founder of...Read more