National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association is a restaurant industry business association in the United States, representing more than 380,000 restaurant locations.[1] It also operates the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.[1] The association was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C.[1]
The National Restaurant Association/NRAEF mission is: "We will lead America’s restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence, and participation, enhancing the quality of life for all we serve." The National Restaurant Association's mission is: "We exist to help our members - the cornerstone of their communities - build customer loyalty, rewarding careers and financial success." [2]
Dawn Sweeney is President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association.[3] The 2012 Chair of the Board is Roz Mallet of PhaseNext Hospitality.[4] Recent association chairs included Sally Smith of Buffalo Wild Wings, and Edward R. Tinsley of New Mexico, the franchisor of K-Bob's Steakhouse restaurant chain, who served from 2006-2007.[1]
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Activities [edit]
The National Restaurant Association develops food safety training and certification program for restaurant employees.[5] It also offers scholarships to foodservice and hospitality management and culinary students through NRAEF, and runs a national program for high school students.[6] The NRA also presents a series of awards, including the Faces of Diversity; American Dream Awards, and the Restaurant Neighbor Award [7]
It runs an annual restaurant and hospitality industry trade show in the U.S. in Chicago and conducts research about the restaurant industry in the U.S.[8] For instance, it states that the restaurant industry in the United States is growing rapidly and now employs 12.9 million Americans in 970,000 locations—with sales in 2012 expected to reach $632 billion.[1]
The National Restaurant Association also helps restaurant owners increase their environmental sustainability efforts.[9]
In addition, the National Restaurant Association's Kids LiveWell program helps restaurants increase healthful options on kids' menus - and makes it easy for parents to find those options when dining out.[10]
The association works closely with its state restaurant and hospitality association partners and provides its members with tools and solutions to improve their business.[11] It also organizes conferences and networking events for its members. There are six membership categories: Restaurant, Allied, Faculty, Student, Nonprofit and International.[12]
The association lobbies for the restaurant and foodservice industry and represents the industry on Capitol Hill.[13] It was the largest food and beverage political action committee contributor to both the U.S. Democratic and Republican Parties in the 2004 election cycle.[14]
The association is actively opposing the lowering of the federal blood alcohol content limit from .08% to .05% [15]
Presidents [edit]
- Ransom M. Callicott, association president, 1949
- Herman Cain, President from 1996-1999.[16]
- Steven C. Anderson, President, 1999-2007[17]
- Dawn Sweeney, President and Chief Executive Officer 2007-current[1]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f About the National Restaurant Association National Restaurant Association
- ^ [1]
- ^ National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney, President & CEO bio
- ^ National Restaurant Association Chair 2012
- ^ ServSafe Food Safety ServSafe Food Safety website.
- ^ ProStart ProStart website.
- ^ [2] Industry Awards Website.
- ^ NRA Show NRA Show website
- ^ Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability Conserve: Solutions for Sustainability website.
- ^ Kids LiveWell Kids LiveWell website.
- ^ State restaurant associations.
- ^ State restaurant associations State restaurant associations.
- ^ National Restaurant Association Advocacy & Representation
- ^ "Food & Beverage PAC Contributions to Federal Candidates, 2003-2004". The Center for Responsive Politics. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
- ^ http://nrn.com/government/ntsb-proposes-lowering-legal-blood-alcohol-limit-driving
- ^ Cain, Herman. This Is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House, Appendix B (2011)
- ^ (22 July 2007). NRA names Sweeney president, CEO, Nation's Restaurant News
