Labor
Labor Shortage Hampers BJ’s Growth Trajectory
FSR Magazine 8/2
BJ’s Restaurants must emerge from the labor shortage before the brand can hit its full stride again post-pandemic, executives said Thursday.
Bar Agricole Plots ‘No-Hierarchy’ Return Following Complaints of Wage Theft
Eater, San Francisco 7/30
SoMa’s acclaimed Bar Agricole shuttered early on in the pandemic, followed not long after by former staffers filing formal complaints of wage theft and volatile working conditions. Now, owner Thad Vogler wants to bring back the James Beard Award-winning restaurant as a non-restaurant of sorts, eliminating the roles of executive chef, bar director, and traditional owner.
Food Industry Policy
More L.A. restaurants are requiring COVID-19 vaccines or tests amid Delta variant surge
Los Angeles Times 7/30
A growing number of Los Angeles restaurants are requiring that diners be vaccinated against COVID-19 or show proof of a recent negative test.
The end of the gas stove in S.F.? City mulls mandates, incentives to electrify building appliances
San Francisco Chronicle 7/30
San Francisco could mandate switching gas appliances to electric after a building is sold or appliances age out, with requirements rolled out in a few years, to help the city meet its climate change goals.
On the Side
How Restaurants Can Navigate a PR Crisis
QSR Magazine 7/30
From shrimp in cereal to E. coli in lettuce, brands have seen their fair share of food safety concerns in recent months. Just one post online can throw a franchise into the spotlight with millions paying close attention—and not in a good way. On top of this, restaurants are still grappling with staffing, training, retention, and adjusting to serve customers in a COVID-19 world.
This California family has visited every In-N-Out in the country
Los Angeles Daily News 7/29
To most customers of In-N-Out Burger, one drive-thru looks pretty much like all the others. But not to Sam Vonderheide. “When you go to 20 a day and 20 the next day, you start to notice things,” he said.
