LOS ANGELES —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Lagging immigration reform, the fear of recession, rising food costs and the increasing demand for good labor were among the hot topics thrashed out by conferees, along with the all-the-more-relevant need to “Fire Up Your Brand”—the theme of this year’s MUFSO gathering of leading chain executives. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
The upcoming presidential election was also on the minds of the nearly 900 attendees. Keynote speaker Leon Panetta, former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, stressed the need for partisanship to be pushed aside to allow a clear view of the pressing issues of the day. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
“This is about power for the people,” Panetta said. “They will determine the course of this country, and you will determine the course of this industry.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Panetta, whose parents had emigrated from Italy and opened a restaurant in Monterey, Calif., during World War II, praised the restaurant industry as one that long has provided access to the American dream. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
“Thirty-two percent of Americans have their first job opportunity in a restaurant,” Panetta said. “You are key to opportunity in this country.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Immigration was a hot-button issue for many MUFSO attendees concerned about Congress’ failed attempts at reforms. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Panelist Antonio Swad, founder and chief executive of the Dallas-based Pizza Patrón chain, shared some of the hate mail his company received after launching a “Pizza for Pesos” promotion earlier this year, during which the chain accepted Mexican currency in addition to U.S. dollars. “We need to understand the mentality we’re dealing with,” he said. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
However, panelist Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington, D.C., asserted that undocumented immigrants bring with them crime, drug trafficking, disease and other societal ills. He made the case for stricter enforcement of immigration laws by saying, “We’re adding more and more clientele to the welfare state. The [foodservice] industry is benefiting from low labor costs by hiring these people and fobbing off the costs onto society.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Taking immigrants out of the future labor pool would be a blow to the industry, argued panelist Dick Rivera, chairman of the National Restaurant Association and president of Rubicon Enterprises, who said the NRA supports the idea of offering undocumented immigrants some form of a “plea bargain” that would give them legal status. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
“The NRA expects 200,000 jobs per year will be created over the next 10 years, more than in any other industry,” Rivera said. “We will regress if we find ourselves without a labor force.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Left unclear during MUFSO, however, were the prospects for penalties on employers who fail to fire workers whose identities don’t match their Social Security records. Saying he needed more time to weigh a legal challenge against the Bush administration’s planned sanctions, a federal judge extended a restraining order Oct. 1 against the plan and its penalties, which could range as high as $10,000 per infraction. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Beyond the stormy debate over immigration reform and the dwindling labor pool, several operators said they expect difficult economic times in the coming year, at least for the short term. Many reiterated the need for innovation and managing costs. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
“I wake up every day scared,” said Nick Vojnovic, president of Tampa, Fla.-based Beef ‘O’Brady’s. “It’s a difficult environment.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Linda A. Lang, chairman and chief executive of Jack in the Box Inc., said the San Diego-based company has been focusing on innovative products over several years, so she feels optimistic.“Now it’s about managing margins and managing costs without having to raise menu prices,” she said. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Zach McLeroy, chairman and chief executive of Zaxby’s, based in Athens, Ga., said he was focusing on building “encore experiences,” particularly with guests who are already loyal to the brand. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Craig Miller, president and chief executive of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Inc., said he remains committed to new growth as the Heathrow, Fla.-based “world’s largest fine-dining chain” prepares to add its 12th international branch soon, in Tokyo. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Miller advised operators to stick to the basics. “You need to be sure you’re relevant and have a point of differentiation,” he said. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
One way to differentiate a brand is through true hospitality, said New York restaurateur and keynote speaker Danny Meyer, founder of the Union Square Hospitality Group. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
While performance is vital, providing true hospitality is an even more crucial imperative, he said. “Everyone today talks about the experience economy,” Meyer said. “We need to talk about the hospitality economy.” —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Hospitality is not one-size-fits-all but must be tailored to the specific foodservice outlet, added Meyer, whose seven concepts range from Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern to the quick-service Shake Shack. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
Winners of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Spirit Awards shared ideas on recruiting, training and retaining service champions. Among the ideas were on-the-spot bonuses to recognize good work, coaching to employee strengths, the provision of substantial benefits, and methods for fostering engaging work cultures. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
In between working sessions, conference attendees networked while being wined and dined or hosted at gourmet receptions. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
MUFSO is the “perfect balance between information and networking,” said Bill Hadden, executive vice president of marketing for the Big Boy chain. “It is a great opportunity to learn while renewing relationships and building new ones,” he said. —The California sun shone brightly as restaurateurs from across the country gathered here this month for the 48th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, but the conversation at MUFSO focused on storms brewing ahead.
