The State of the Independent Restaurant Industry w/ Dr. Anne McBride from the James Beard Foundation

Closed Monday

Dr. Anne McBride, Vice President of Programs at the James Beard Foundation, discusses the findings of a comprehensive survey conducted by the foundation. The survey gathered responses from chefs across 44 states and highlighted the challenges faced by the restaurant industry, including rising food costs and fluctuating customer numbers. McBride emphasizes the importance of digital presence and content creation for restaurants to connect with customers beyond their physical locations. She also discusses the impact of increased consumer education and the focus on customer experience. McBride highlights the advocacy work of the James Beard Foundation and the resources available to support independent restaurants.

Takeaways

The James Beard Foundation conducted an in-depth study that gathered responses from chefs across 44 states, highlighting the challenges faced by the restaurant industry.

Restaurants can cope with rising food costs by adopting strategies such as selling products like salad dressings and leaning into content creation and social media presence.

Increased consumer education plays a significant role in shaping the future of the industry, as customers become more aware of the factors impacting prices and operations.

Operators should prioritize the customer experience to create a loyal customer base and increase revenue.

The James Beard Foundation provides resources and advocacy for independent restaurants, including webinars, events, and initiatives focused on mental health, financial literacy, and wellness.

Chapters

00:00. Introduction and Overview

01:04. In-depth Study by James Beard Foundation

02:04 Challenges Faced by Restaurants

03:36 Importance of Digital Presence

04:50 Trends in the Restaurant Industry

05:36 Fluctuating Customer Numbers

06:38 Coping with Rising Food Costs

07:20 Increased Consumer Education

08:17 Focus on Customer Experience

09:25 Importance of Self-Care for Operators

12:48 Key Takeaways from the Report

18:21 Adapting to Rising Rents

20:23 Advocacy Work by James Beard Foundation

23:39 Upcoming Events and Initiatives

29:08 Importance of Resources for Independent Restaurants

29:31 Final Thoughts and Closing

Download the JBF Industry Report here.

JBF's Industry Support Page

JBF Industry Support Newsletter

JBF's Virtual Education Library

Upcoming events/initiatives, including:

• 1/16-1/17: Financial Literacy Workshop for Women
  
• 1/22-2/19: Winter Wellness series

Additional programs

• Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL)Winter Wellness series
• Opportunities to advocate for industry change
• Scholarship, Grant, and Tuition Waiver offerings

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