NRA: Restaurants to increase spending in 2013

Cautiously optimistic

(Continued from page 1)

One brighter spot was the adoption of energy-saving equipment and fixtures to save money on energy and water costs. About 85 percent of quick-service operators and nearly eight out of 10 family-dining and fast-casual operators bought energy- saving light figures in 2012, the NRA forecast noted.

“A majority of both full-service and limited-service operators also plan to purchase energy-saving light fixtures in 2013,” the NRA said. A large number of operators also expressed interest in buying energy-saving kitchen equipment and water-conserving fixtures in 2013.

Supply-chain professionals, which include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and brokers, expressed cautious optimism about the year ahead.

About 37 percent of supply-chain professionals said the economy would get better in 2013, while 12 percent said it would worsen. “The remaining 51 percent said they expect economic conditions to remain about the same as they were in 2012,” the NRA said.

The supply-chain professional were more optimistic about business conditions than their restaurant-industry counterparts, the NRA found.

“Although none of the supply-chain professionals said business conditions in the restaurant industry were ‘excellent,’ 35 percent gave them a rating of ‘good,’” the forecast said. “This is well above the roughly 20 percent of restaurant operators who gave industry business conditions a rating of ‘good.’”

Overall, the supply chain reported positive sales results in 2012. About 42 percent of supply- chain professionals said their sales in 2012 were better than they were in 2011, while just 9 percent said their business was down from 2011.

Contact Ron Ruggless at ronald.ruggless@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless