Labor
With tips down, some restaurants have raised wages for servers. Will it last?
Marketplace 7/13
Before the pandemic, Colleen’s Kitchen operated the way most restaurants in Texas do — they paid their servers the tipped minimum wage, $2.13 an hour, plus tips. But in this new world, where business is way down and so few people are dining in, owner Ashley Fric started to wonder if having staff rely on tips was still a viable model.
Food Industry Policy
Newsom orders all California counties to close indoor restaurants, bars
San Francisco Chronicle 7/13
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday signaled a major retreat in the state’s two-month effort to recover from the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus, ordering the closure of bars, indoor restaurants, movie theaters and many other recently reopened businesses across California.
Oakland and Berkeley Abruptly Shut Down All Outdoor Dining
Eater, San Francisco 7/13
In a Friday night announcement, officials in Alameda County — the region that includes Oakland, Berkeley, and Pleasanton (among other notable cities) — announced that bars, restaurants, and wineries in the area must immediately halt sit-down, outdoor dining and revert to takeout and delivery service, only.
Not All Alameda County Restaurants Heed Order to Suspend Outdoor Dining
NBC, Bay Area 7/13
Outdoor dining has been suspended in Alameda County amid rising coronavirus cases, but not every restaurant is complying with the new restriction.
On the Side
Don’t listen to the naysayers, Uber’s acquisition of Postmates should be welcomed
The Hill 7/13
In the midst of a pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the restaurant sector, an Uber/Postmates merger should be greeted as good news for anyone who hopes to see their favorite eatery survive.
10 restaurant trends fueled by the pandemic
Fast Casual 7/13
The restaurant industry is expected to lose $240 billion by the end of 2020, according to the National Restaurant Association, and until things can go back to being the way they were pre-pandemic, we have to accept the new norms that pertain to dining out — among other things.
Restaurant owners seeing empty outdoor tables as Fresno temperatures reach triple digits
KFSN, Fresno 7/13
At the beginning of this month, Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered counties experiencing spikes in coronavirus to close their indoor dining services.
Fine dining chefs are opening San Francisco chicken restaurant the Roost
San Francisco Chronicle 7/13
The bird puns write themselves. “The name is the Roost,” said chef Ashley Keeler about her upcoming San Francisco restaurant. “Our thing is chicken. The building is called the Aviary.”
White Castle is Bringing Robots to the Kitchen
QSR Magazine July 2020
Well before COVID-19, robots were a buzzy topic for quick-service restaurants. The labor market was historically tight, with no signs of let-up, and automation promised a streamlined, cost-effective approach. Accuracy and speed of service were other carrots for innovation-forward concepts to chase.
5 Ways Marketing Can Help the Restaurant Industry Today
FSR Magazine July 2020
Digital marketing has always been a fast-paced industry demanding quick but strategic thinking to stand out among the crowd. But 2020 has thrown curveball after curveball, putting marketers and local businesses like restaurants to the ultimate test.
