Labor
Restaurants say they’re having trouble hiring; employees found other jobs during pandemic
KTVU 4/27
“Just because of the things happening with the pandemic, a lot of people when we had to shut down and be closed for a whole year, decided to go in different industries altogether,” said Ramiro Caravez, general manager and partner of Scott’s Seafood in Oakland.
McDonald’s workers want more say over California labor conditions. This plan would help them
The Sacramento Bee 4/26
She and other fast-food workers are rallying for a bill that would make California the first state to establish a council setting pay and workplace standards for the entire industry. The bill, which would also hold companies like McDonald’s liable for the acts of their franchisees, cleared a hearing in the Assembly Labor Committee last week.
Food Industry Policy
Consumer demand for sustainable packaging holds despite pandemic
Food Dive 4/27
Despite the pressures of the pandemic, sustainable packaging has emerged as a top priority as consumers show more interest in their environmental footprint and that of the overall food system. A 2020 Study from Shorr Packaging found that two-thirds of shoppers who have made changes in their purchasing behaviors during the pandemic are paying more attention to packaging.
DoorDash Commissions Can Now Start as Low as 15 Percent
FSR Magazine 4/27
Beginning Tuesday, all U.S. local restaurants will have a choice of three different delivery commission price points with new Partnership Plans, starting with a 15 percent option. Additionally, DoorDash is lowering Pickup commission costs to 6 percent and making Storefront, a commission-free online ordering product, free (except for payment processing fees) for all restaurant partners.
On the Side
Wall Street Vet Aims to Disrupt the Plant-Based Category
QSR Magazine 4/27
Adam Weiss isn’t a career restaurateur. He’s from Wall Street. He spent much of his time raising assets on behalf of financial institutions to invest and help make “rich people richer,” as he puts it. While it was financially beneficial, Weiss didn’t feel like he was making much of a difference in the world. He wanted to use his capital and energy on a more impactful venture.
Applications for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund to Open Monday
QSR Magazine 4/27
Online applications for the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund will open Monday afternoon, according to Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. The SBA will begin registrations on Friday at 9 a.m. eastern and will open applications on Monday at noon eastern. The online application will remain open until all funds are depleted.
