IAA Cafe, Diner & Restaurant Association

New Norms for Restaurants Will Become Permanent

by Aaron Wise | Nov 11, 2020 | Restaurant

Restaurant owners now understand that the dining changes caused by COVID-19 will persist through 2021. Dining will not return to normal; dining will develop a new normal. COVID-19 has disrupted the restaurant industry more than any other, with seated diners fully 99%...

Listed Restaurants Outperform Owner-Operated Establishments

by Aaron Wise | Nov 3, 2020 | Restaurant

One in four restaurants will permanently close by the end of the year, costing the country millions of jobs and at least one full percentage point of GDP. Yet for many of the country’s large and publicly traded restaurants, business would seem to be nothing but...

Exclusive Comments from Today’s Restaurant Owners

by Aaron Wise | Nov 1, 2020 | Restaurant

“We’re doing a lot more sanitation. Everybody’s wearing masks. We closed our dining room.” So began our phone conversation last week with Ohio chef Jordan Hamons, enumerating practices that nearly all restaurant owners in the country have been forced to adopt this...

Updated Restaurant Industry Sales Numbers

by Aaron Wise | Oct 25, 2020 | Restaurant

Two months since our last report on restaurant statistics, restaurant industry sales continue to whipsaw. In April, sales from Food Services & Drinking Places (NAICS code 722) totaled $30 billion, a collapse of -53% versus April 2019. By June, sales had increased...

Local Marketing Strategies to Increase Diners

by Dayne Shuda | Oct 24, 2020 | Restaurant

Tap your local area with creative strategies to increase revenue. You’ve spent time, money, and a lot of effort to get your restaurant off the ground. Every day you go to work hoping and expecting to see more actual diners inside your restaurant excited to sample your...

McDonald’s Earnings Disappoint, Starbucks Beats

by Aaron Wise | Oct 21, 2020 | Restaurant

It is earnings week; more blue chip companies report second quarter fiscal results this week than any other week. Today on national radio, senior restaurant analyst Michael Halen discussed disappointing earnings reports from McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) and Starbucks...