Labor
McDonald’s expands youth skills training program
HR Dive 9/28
McDonald’s, aiming to improve equity in skills training for youth, is expanding its Passport to Success (PTS) Explorer digital curriculum planning to reach up to 100,000 through non-profits, community organizations and post-secondary institutions that support diverse communities, it announced Sept. 21.
Food Industry Policy
Delivery Apps in California Will Soon Be Required to Have Permission from Restaurants
Food & Wine 9/28
Some delivery services have been adding restaurants without consent. A new California law will end that practice.
Oregon congressman proposes $120 billion restaurant relief bill
KGW 8, 9/28
Independent restaurants are hurting. Only six months into the pandemic, a survey released in mid-September from the National Restaurant Association says that one in six restaurants in the United States are closed long-term or permanently.
Updated COVID-19 Data Could Put LA’s Planned Reopening in Jeopardy
Eater, Los Angeles 9/28
A slight uptick in recent COVID-19 cases “threatens to slow” LA County’s suggested mid-October reopening, reports the LA Times.
LA’s Al Fresco Program Gives Restaurants a Boost — But Is It Enough?
Los Angeles Business Journal 9/28
These days, some L.A. neighborhoods look more like a summer street scene in Paris or Rome. Sidewalks and parking lots are dotted with festive café-style tables, umbrellas or tents as restaurants reinvent outdoor spaces to take advantage of Mayor Eric Garcetti’s L.A. Al Fresco program.
On the Side
National Restaurant Association offering conflict-resolution courses on face mask feuds for foodservice workers
Fox News 9/28
Restaurants were not made for fighting. In recent months, there have been several incidents involving restaurant workers and customers who are angry over certain regulations that have been added since the coronavirus pandemic struck.
How food halls are equipped to weather COVID-19
SmartBrief 9/28
In 2019 and early 2020, food halls were a booming trend of the food and beverage industry. These spaces are the home of several vendors, often consisting of independent, artisanal foodservice operators and boutique food retailers.
Bear Robotics and SoftBank Debut New Servi Restaurant Robot
The Spoon 9/28
Good-bye, Penny. Hello Servi. Bear Robotics and SoftBank announced their new food service robot, dubbed Servi, at an event in Tokyo today.
What’s Your Comfort Level With Restaurants Right Now?
Eater 9/28
I’ve probably asked this before but, I’m curious how you’re feeling about going to restaurants right now and how that opinion has evolved over the course of the summer. We’ve polled readers, I ask my friends, I talk to my editors in two dozen cities across the country and in the UK, and it seems hard to come to a consensus.
What’s New in Restaurant Tech? Data Partnerships
QSR Magazine Sep. 2020
Increasingly, the restaurant industry is aware of the tremendous value of data for quick-service restaurants. Data can help restaurants better understand who their customers are, what they like to order and when, which in turn can help optimize supply, streamline menus, staff efficiently and drive sales.
