industry news
2012 NRA SHOW,
WHAT’S ON TAP?
The 2012 National Restaurant Association
Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show takes place
May 5-8 at McCormick Place, Chicago. Some
of the show’s highlights are:
2012 RESTAURANT INDUSTRY FORECAST
representing 10% of the total U.S. workforce. www.restaurant.org/forecast
HUNKERED-DOWN
OPTIMISTIC
The restaurant industry is projected to expand in 2012, according
to the National Restaurant Association’s 2012 Restaurant
Industry Forecast. Total restaurant industry sales are expected
to reach a record high of $632 billion in 2012, a 3.5% increase
over 2011, marking the second consecutive year that industry
sales have topped $600 billion. In addition, the restaurant
industry will continue to fuel U.S. employment in the year ahead
as the nation’s second largest private sector employer. Overall
restaurant industry employment will reach 12. 9 million in 2012,
FEATURED 2012 CONSUMER RESEARCH SECTION
in a
Challenging
eCOnOMY
DeCODing
COnsuMers
CAUTIOUS
Scan this QR code or visit
www.restaurant.org/forecast
to view the 2012 Restaurant
Industry Forecast video
Bayless
Blais
The Restaurant Industry Forecast is free to NRA members and
available for $199.95 to nonmembers at www.restaurant.org/store.
LUNCH BREAK FOR SCHOOLS SUCCESS
• Insider tips from
industry notables
such as Rick
Bayless and “Top
Chef” contestants
Richard Blais, Spike
Mendelsohn and
Fabio Viviani at
the World Culinary
Showcase.
Mendelsohn
• More than 70
education sessions
include “Riding
the Street Food
Movement,” “Taking
People With You” and
“Menu Innovation
2012: Turning Trends
into Money Makers.”
Viviani
Chefs across the nation
rose to the challenge
Feb. 27-March 2
and raised funds and
awareness for childhood
nutrition education
by participating in
the Lunch Break for
Schools fundraiser. Chefs were asked to create
and sell delicious, healthy lunches during the
week to raise money for the American Culinary
Federation’s (ACF) involvement in Chefs Move to
Schools. The fundraiser was organized through
a partnership of the makers of Hidden Valley®
Salad Dressings, ACF and celebrity chef Cat
Cora, who served as spokesperson.
Hidden Valley and ACF thank the more than
50 chefs who participated in the inaugural
program. It was their hard work, creativity and
dedication that made the fundraiser such a
great success. To learn more, visit
www.acfchefs.org/lunchbreakforschools.
Childhood nutrition education is a national issue,
and the Chefs Move to Schools program is an
integral part of the Lets Move! campaign. The
initiative has championed change in school
nutrition education and lunch menus throughout
the nation. For more information on Chefs Move
to Schools, visit www.chefsmovetoschools.org.
• Former President
Bill Clinton, keynote
speaker, will share
insights on his
presidency and talk
about his current
work with the
William J. Clinton
Foundation.
• The 2012 Food
and Beverage
Product Innovations
Award and Kitchen
Innovations Award
recipients will be
showcased in the
Food and Beverage
Product Innovations
Gallery and Kitchen
Innovations Pavilion,
respectively.
DISCOVER DUCK RECIPE CONTEST
Enter the 2012 Discover Duck™ Chef and Culinary Student Recipe Contest
through June 8. Create up to three original recipes for appetizers or small
plates that showcase duck in creative ways. Professional chefs vie for a $5,000
grand prize, $3,000 second prize and $1,500 third prize. The top two culinary
students will win $2,500 and $1,500. Contest rules and entry details are
available at www.mapleleaffarms.com/chefcontest/.
