“Don’t blink,” my cousin whispered to me during our family reunion at Thanksgiving. In this case, she was referring to the fleetingness of childhood, as we watched her now-6-foot-tall son, soon to graduate from high school and leave for college, adeptly mingle with his relatives.
I’m sure we can all relate. Whether we’re shepherding children or businesses — or both — in the course of our busy days, the years fly by.
This year has been no exception. It blew right past us in a rush of snowstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes. A year that started amid hopes of economic recovery quickly found its momentum quashed by political lunacy and no shortage of bad news from overseas.
In this, our last issue of 2011, we recount in the Special Report the year’s fleeting highlights and lowlights. Along with the acquisitions and bankruptcies that informed the changing landscape, you’ll find the year’s popular foods, drinks and deals; the industry’s hottest stocks; and the companies that excelled at growth and winning over customers.
We also recap who’s in and who’s out, the year’s notable newsmakers, and the many award winners. And, as ever, at NRN.com you’ll find additional gems from the year gone by.
But while the Special Report offers a retrospective given the looming Dec. 31 finish line, the rest of the book looks ahead to the next races.
In Business Intel we focus on the inroads retailers — especially convenience store operators — are making in their efforts to grow their share of the food-away-from-home dollar through higher-quality foods and basement-level pricing. While their progress is real, according to a new study by Technomic, some observers say the threat may be blown out of proportion when viewed through the prism of the industry’s evolution. That story begins on page 1.
Meanwhile, McDonald’s, seemingly unfazed by any hurdles it has faced in the recent past, continues to re-engineer its in-store experience. This time, the offering is the McDonald’s Channel, a proprietary video content network that is expected to be available in 650 restaurants in southern and central California beginning this quarter. In Marketing we talk with one of the channel’s creators about its potential for new ways of communicating with customers.
Communication and consensus building are two of Roz Mallet’s strengths, and they will no doubt help the chief executive of Dallas-based PhaseNext Hospitality when she takes over as chairwoman of the National Restaurant Association in January, according to those who know the industry veteran. In Community we look at how Mallet’s past experiences have prepared her for one of the industry’s most demanding roles.
And in the Operations section we offer up best human resources practices from companies in four industry segments that were honored during the recent People Report conference for their low turnover, innovative policies and diverse workplaces.
To end the year on a sweet note, the Food & Beverage section examines the many trends influencing desserts across industry segments.
In compiling this issue, the editorial team, myself included, pored through all of our 2011 issues and dug up Web stories from earlier in the year, often with the haunting feeling that what happened in February had happened just yesterday.
For me, one thing became evident: Despite the whirlwind that defines the past 12 months, the NRN editors have remained steadfast in their efforts to bring you an amazing collection of news, analysis, insights and commentary.
I’m very proud of the work we’ve done in 2011, and if you missed our NRN 50, “Maximize the Menu,” the 2011 Top 200, the special reports on dayparts or our inaugural Consumer Picks, they are worth seeking out before 2012 pulls us all into its inevitably frenetic vortex.
Wishing you happy holidays and, more importantly, the time to enjoy them with loved ones. Don’t blink.
Contact Robin Lee Allen at [email protected].
Follow her on Twitter: @RobinLeeAllen.