Order Up

The federal and state response to restaurants struggling through the pandemic has been uneven at best. Sean Kennedy of the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs team returned to Order Up to discuss what Congress needs to do – right now – to help the industry recover. Listen to the episode and contact your legislators to be part of the change.

Higher education is the ticket to better paying careers. The cost of college, however, can be an impediment to many interested in entering the foodservice and hospitality industry. This week on Order Up, we’re speaking with the Senior Manager of the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation, Matthew Rosales, as well as scholarship recipient and rising culinary star, Ashten Garrett. Tune in for details and share with any students in your life who could benefit from a National Restaurant Association scholarship.

The rapid growth of third-party delivery has had a major impact on the restaurant industry - opening opportunities and introducing pain points. In response, the National Restaurant Association developed a set of principles that define best practices for third-party delivery and guidance for public policy. On our first Quick Bite episode, Mike Whatley, the Association’s VP of State Affairs covers each of the seven principles, and how the major third-party delivery players were an important part of the conversation.

2020 was brutal for the restaurant industry. The good news is that 2021 is already trending better. Hudson Riehle, Senior Vice President of Research and Knowledge at the National Restaurant Association, joined us on our Season Two opener to share numbers from the 2021 State of the Restaurant Industry Report. Tune in for some good news about the industry forecast.

Good food safety and hygiene practices are key for restaurants to begin the recovery process. The National Restaurant Association’s new ServSafe Dining Commitment is one way for restaurants to establish trust with patrons. On this episode of Order Up, we’re talking to Sara Bray of the National Restaurant Association and Roy Hinojosa of Golden Corral about how restaurants can join, and benefit from, the ServSafe Dining Commitment.

In our last episode of the 2020 Order Up season, we talked with President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Tom Bené about the state of the restaurant industry in 2020 and how that affects recovery plans in 2021.

Almost a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry has suffered the largest losses in both jobs and profits with no government aid in sight. The Public Affairs arm of the National Restaurant Association is working closely with President-Elect Biden’s transition team to bring much needed relief on day one of the new administration. Sean Kennedy, EVP of Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association, joins the podcast to discuss the association’s legislative strategy.

An apprenticeship is a pathway to advancement in a trade without necessarily going to college. Europe has a long tradition of this approach, however, apprenticeship programs in the United States are still new. John Shortt is the Director of Program Development for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. He is our guest this week on Order Up to discuss apprentice opportunities in the restaurant industry.

Good food safety and hygiene practices are key for restaurants to begin the recovery process. The National Restaurant Association’s new ServSafe Dining Commitment is one way for restaurants to establish trust with patrons. On this episode of Order Up, we’re talking to Sara Bray of the National Restaurant Association and Roy Hinojosa of Golden Corral about how restaurants can join, and benefit from, the ServSafe Dining Commitment.

Wow Bao started an innovative new use for the dark kitchen concept prior to the closures brought on by COVID. With this model, Wow Bao enables small restaurants and businesses who want to offer a well-known food product an easy way to resell with an online training portal to help maximize sales. Geoff Alexander, President and CEO of Wow Bao, is our guest this week and discusses how this process works.