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National Restaurant Association Offers “Always Ready” Guides to Help Deal with Disasters
There are situations every restaurant hopes it never encounters — fire and natural disaster among them. But there are, of course, no guarantees, as two recent examples show.
On May 8, Jose’s Mexican Grill and Cantina in Hot Springs, Arkansas, sustained significant damage — water leakage, destroyed AC units, vent hoods and more — when an EF-2 tornado hit the town.
And on Friday, June 21, La Finca Mexican Restaurant in Morehead, Kentucky, was damaged by fire, forcing the business to close for at least several weeks — and just as the owners were planning a remodel.
With catastrophic weather events escalating nationwide and fires always a risk, the National Restaurant Association has produced an “Always Ready” series of free guides that offer restaurants information on planning for and reacting to a calamitous event.
Always Ready: Natural Disasters gleans the best practices from official sources and restaurant operators — including human resources and risk managers from independent restaurants and national brands — to share recommendations for what to do in advance, during and after earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, wildfires and severe winter storms. It includes resources to help operators develop crisis management teams, insurance coverage, emergency contact lists and supplies, communication protocols, disaster response plans for each storm type, and next steps for recovery. “Government agencies from FEMA to the CDC and Ready.gov offer myriad resources for preparedness and recovery … but none is geared specifically to restaurant operations,” the NRA notes.
Always Ready: Fire pulls best practices from official sources and restaurant operators —including human resources and risk managers from independent restaurants and national brands — to share recommendations for what to do in advance of, during and after a fire in your restaurant. The guide covers topics including vetting insurance coverage, assembling a crisis management team, assessing your restaurant’s risk for fire, taking fire prevention measures, creating an “In Case of Fire” action plan that includes practice drills, creating a contact list to address after-fire recovery, and communicating with staff and customers. As information from the NRA says, “Pre-planning and a good blueprint for what to do if a fire breaks out can have a big impact on the safety of your employees and guests and the ability of your business to recover quickly.”
Storm-specific Mini Guides — quick reminders of what to do in advance, during and just after a storm — also are available to share with team members.
You can download the guides here.
Mexican Restaurants Shine in Datassential 500 Report
The 2024 Datassential 500 Report, which examines the 500 largest multi-unit restaurants in the United States, revealed that those restaurants had sales of $417 billion in 2023 (an increase of 7.5 percent over 2022), and a total of 238,152 units (up about 2 percent). Mexican restaurant chains had an excellent showing in the report, appearing among the leaders in 9 of 13 categories.
The Mexican chain heavy hitters, Taco Bell and Chipotle, scored neared the top of the big categories: Taco Bell ranked 5th in overall units with 7,405 units and 4th in overall sales, at nearly $14 billion. Chipotle ranked 8th in overall sales, at nearly $10 billion.
In another big-picture category, Mexican limited-service restaurants (LSRs) overall ranked as the 5th fastest growing segment, at 3 percent growth. That was a slightly faster growth rate than chicken restaurants and nearly double the growth of pizza restaurants. Only salad, coffee and dessert chains grew at a faster clip. In terms of revenue growth, chicken outpaced Mexican by about 3 percentage points.
In the operating segment breakdown, Taco Bell was the 4th largest quick service chain by unit, and Chipotle was the 2nd largest in the fast casual segment. In the Casual & Fine Dining Segment, Plaza Azteca was the 7th fastest growing chain, followed immediately by El Torito Cantina Autentica at 8th and Torchy’s Tacos at 9th. Brazilian beef chain Fogo de Chao rounded out that category in the 10th position.
In a near shut-out, Mexican multi-unit restaurants did not do particularly well in the Consumer Perception rankings. No Mexican chain ranked among the top five in Food Quality, Service, Experience or “Net Promoter,” which is the answer to this question: “How likely would you be to recommend this chain to friends & family?”
The only Consumer Perception rankings Mexican restaurants placed in were the Affordability and Value for the Dollar categories. Pollo Tropical ranked 5th in the Affordability ranking; Del Taco ranked 5th in the Value for the Dollar ranking; and Café Rio ranked 2nd in Largest Gains in Value for the Dollar.
These rankings show that while Mexican multi-units are doing well overall, they could definitely improve in terms of what customers think about them. Affordability is important, of course, but quality Mexican multi-unit restaurants offer much more than value. Hopefully the 2025 report will include Mexican restaurants among the winners in all categories.
Antojo Industry Trade Expo Announces Exciting Updates
Key details are falling into place for the second annual Antojo Industry Expo set for October 13-14 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. Highlights will include a keynote speech by celebrity chef and entrepreneur Jenny Martinez, a Latino Food & Beverage Summit, and 150+ exhibitors who will showcase products and services.
On October 13, Martinez’s keynote address will launch the Expo at the “Bienvenidos Cafe con Pan Dulce” during a welcome party in “El Lobby” outside the exhibit hall. Martinez became a social media sensation by posting images of her Mexican family’s recipes and now has 3.5 million TikTok followers and 250,000 YouTube subscribers. Her entrepreneurial endeavors include a line of cookware, MesaMia, a line of spice mixes, and the best-selling cookbook, My Mexican Mesa, Y Listo!: Beautiful Flavors, Family Style.
The Antojisimo Fiesta, a networking and socializing event, is scheduled for that evening outside the exhibit hall.
On October 14, the 10th Annual Latino Food & Beverage Summit in “El Lobby” will bring together industry leaders, influencers, entrepreneurs, and passionate professionals for a day of insightful discussions, networking, and a glimpse into the future of Latino food and beverage.
For more information or to register, visit antojoindustry.com.
Antojo Industry Trade Expo Exhibitors
Megamex
Herdez
Wholly Guacamole
Embasa
Dona Maria
La Victoria
CMC Sales & Marketing
El Yucateco Habanero
Don Victor Honey
La Sirena Sardines
Super Lucky Jasmine Rice
Mega Chamoy
La Botanera Salsa
Val Vita Tomato Sauce
Pagasa Pasta and Cookies
Old Hacienda
El Rosal Flour
Pan Harina Arepas
805 Cerveza
Cremimex
Cal State Foods
Latino Restaurant Association
Senic International
Tequila Papacito
Tequila 916
Beanhut
Nelia’s La Birria
V&V Supremo
Urban Farmhouse
Toro Tents
Same For Your Corp.
Sauco Salsas
Dirty Cat Mix
Lunchitas
Cool-A-Zone
Fiesta Mexicana
Gaya Imports
Kijun, Inc.
La Purepecha
Manufacturas Lenin
IQ Risk
Bback 4 More
Kuko’s Adobo Marinade
Munch Citi
ODS Link
Premier Labeling
Ya Oaxaca
Tagrisk Insurance
Vibras Foods
Latino Food Industry Association
TUYYO Foods
Lolita’s Guiltless Margaritas
AltImpact Coffee
Badia Spices
Pepe's Foods
Styles by Jean
el Restaurante Magazine
Gonzalez Merchandise Import & Export
New Economics for Women
Nongshim USA
VNVN System
1515 Design
Doregrill
Cordialsa USA
Mexico Lindo
Zuko
Cielo Ramen
Jinro US
Ideal Cooking Products/Ekono
American Scale
Besitos
Los Pericos Tostadas
Bravo Foods
Empire International Food Corp.
Indomie
Gustinos
Johnnie Chingas Cook Seasoning
La Tapatia Tortilleria, Inc.
Ortega’s Meat Distribution
RED Produce
Sabor Victoria
Watson Distributing
Mesa Mia
Tapatio Hot Sauce
ToDo Robotics
Zumex
Aqua 9+ Beverage Co.
Citrus America
Torrico Alimentos
Gus Mejia Arte
Cocijo Mezcal
National Cooperative Bank
Buzzballz
360 Booth Expert, LLC.
Mela Water
EZ Bombs
DeSilva Spices
Crystal Geyser
Tio Pelon Salsita, Inc.
Rainbow Foods
Hacienda Agua Blanca
Friendly Fruits
La Jolla Tortilleria
Huitlacoche Bodega
Panble
4 Brothers Chiles and Spices
Nathan Kimmel Company
El Alce
Marukan Vinegar USA Inc.
SoCal Gas
Tortiflavor Cal.
Jovy Candy
Dynamic Coatings
Uniq Marketing and Branding
Cheech & Chong's High & Dry
Jones Soda
Action Duct Cleaning Company
Cantadrink
Chefs' Toys
Avoolio
Kittrich Canopy
Tajin
Nex-Sip!
Roots By Ramsan
Superior Food Machinery
Vidagua
San Diablo Artesian Churros
Rancho Foods
Salsa Huichol
X-IGENT Printing
JRS Imports and Trade
Amoretti
Two Nutty Brothers
Ramos Tortimex
Cactus Crunch Chips
Vidagua
Harvest Meat Distributors
Seis Soles Wine Co.
Brothers Carts MFG
Del Molcajete Salsa
OCM Globe Inc.
Liquid Death
SpotOn by Cloud POS Solution
Freshly Squeezed
The Box Company MX
Aguas Locas
Frylow
Xiamen Kenjo Foods Co. Ltd.
Purse Pegs LLC
Valley Fruit and Produce/Continental Export
Dona Elisa's Adobo y Salsas
Cielo Foods, Inc.
SKY LED Media
Rasec Solutions/ El Aguila Foods
Sarah Gonzalez Agency
EDT USA
Flex CBD
Aguave Lechuguillia
Skechers
Heineken
De La Calle Tepache
Kas-Botanas Mexico, Inc.
Salvadidas
Especias Aries
Autec Sushi Robots
TelevisaUnivision
RationAle Brewing Co.
Fresh & Natural California