Restaurant Trends In 2011
Restaurant Trends In 2011 By Christopher Sharits Despite the sluggish economy, the restaurant industry continues to be the cornerstone of a strong U.S. economy. According to the National Restaurant Association, the anticipated industry sales should top $604 Billion dollars in 2011 which is 3.6% up from 2010. As far as an impact on the overall economy, U.S. restaurants employ nearly 13 million full-table and quick-service workers or one out of ten U.S. workers. If one was to include restaurant suppliers, marketing firms, media, and generally related providers the number of incomes impacted by restaurant sales balloons up to more than 20 million. Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant Association President and CEO stated that, "It has been a very challenging time for our industry for the past two years, and while there are still challenges ahead, we are glad to report that the outlook is improving. With a total economic impact of more than $1.5 trillion, the restaurant industry is a str...