Restaurant Industry Update [National Restaurant Association]

/in

The National Restaurant Association newsletter is out and full of useful articles worth reading. Here are just a few:

Pups on patios: 8 tips to safely cater to canine companions

The question of whether pet dogs are legally permissible in an outdoor dining area comes down to state and local laws and regs. More than 20 states and numerous local governments have laws permitting dogs and for the first time, the FDA Food Code provides guidance on the topic. Read the article.

Changes to 2022 Food Code make donations easier

Operators who plan to donate food from their restaurants can follow these 4 tips from Association partner Food Donation Connection and our Association’s VP of Food Science and Safety. Get the tips that cover temperature control, packaging, and labeling. Learn more.

Menu labeling regulations are coming back

On May 11, the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration expires and with it the suspension of menu-labeling enforcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Operators will have until Nov. 7, 2023, to meet labeling requirements. Find out what you need to do.

Read the rest of this month’s National Restaurant Association newsletter.

How to Tell if Someone is Intoxicated: 5 Signs of Intoxication

/in

How to Recognize an Intoxicated Person

Everyone who drinks runs the danger of consuming alcohol excessively. Unfortunately, some people don’t know how to manage their alcohol intake. This changes a person’s behavior and makes it difficult to manage their actions. It can therefore increase the risk of an awful and unexpected outcome.

So how can you tell if a person is showing signs of intoxication? The person will exhibit symptoms of drunkenness in their behavior, coordination, and appearance. The following are examples of the behavioral cues a person may display:

1. Becoming talkative or loud indicates lowered inhibitions

2. Using foul language or misbehaving, indicating impaired judgment

3. Moving very slowly or unfocused eyes displaying slowed reactions

4. Stumbling or swaying indicates a loss of coordination

The list does not include many intoxication rate factors, which we shall discuss later.

READ MORE ON THE TiPS WEBSITE.

January 2023 Employment Update – AEDC

/in

Here is the Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC)’s January 2023 Employment Update. Click here to read or download the full report.

Across all sectors, Anchorage increased employment by about 4,800 over January 2022, but saw employment decrease by about 2,500 from December 2022.

ServSafe Food Allergen Posters

/in

Did you know that more than 32 million people currently experience food allergies in the U.S? That’s 32 million people who could potentially experience an allergic reaction while dining at your restaurant.
SOURCE: AAFA. (2022, April). Allergy Facts and Figures.

Download these ServSafe National Restaurant Association posters. You can download the posters by clicking the images or links below.

Download The Big 9

Download Infographic

Restaurant Hunger Relief Program Selection Announced

/in
Here are the selected businesses for the current Restaurant Hunger Relief Program, announced today:
 
AK Alchemist
Anchorage re:MADE
Benihana
BurgerFi
Gumbo House
Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant
Las Margaritas Restaurant
Mr. Darryl’s Southern BBQ
Muffin Man – Cafe 817
Oriental Garden
Subway of Alaska
Subway of Girdwood
Tent City Taphouse
The Broken Blender
The Little Miss Cafe
Waffles and Whatnot

Choose Anchorage: A Framework for Revitalization

/in

Choose Anchorage: A Framework for Revitalization is the result of an 11-month planning process that engaged
numerous individuals and organizations in the community. The effort was coordinated through AEDC and guided
by a volunteer 20-member steering committee. The planning process was conducted in three phases: discovery,
opportunity, and implementation.

 

Download the Report – PDF

Alaska minimum wage to increase to $10.85 in 2023

/in

Oct. 20, 2022
No. 22-17

JUNEAU — The Alaska minimum wage will increase from $10.34 to $10.85 in 2023. Voters passed a ballot initiative in 2014 to adjust the minimum wage annually for inflation.

Alaska Statute 23.10.065(a) requires the Alaska minimum wage to be adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for urban consumers in the Anchorage metropolitan area (Anchorage CPI-U) for the preceding calendar year. The Anchorage CPI-U increased 4.9 percent in 2021. As a result, the minimum wage will rise from $10.34 to $10.85 effective Jan. 1, 2023.

The Alaska minimum wage applies to all hours worked in a pay period, regardless of how the employee is paid — whether by time, piece, commission or otherwise. All actual hours worked in a pay period multiplied by the Alaska minimum wage is the very least an employee can be compensated by an employer unless the employer can clearly show that a specific exemption exists.

Restaurant disaster relief fund

/in

Restaurant disaster relief fund

If your restaurant is experiencing hardship due to a federally declared natural disaster, has 3 stores or fewer, employs fewer than 50 employees per location, and has revenues of $3M or less per location in the last 12 months, you might be eligible for a DoorDash $10K relief grant through the Restaurant Disaster Relief Fund, in partnership with Hello Alice. Apply today at doordash.helloalice.com.

APPLICATIONS CLOSED: Restaurant Hunger Relief Program – Winter 2022

/in ,

Alaska Hospitality Retailers, United Way of Anchorage, and the Municipality of Anchorage are happy to continue the “Restaurant Hunger Relief Program,” a meals food program.

Applications for the Restaurant Hunger Relief Program are now CLOSED. Thanks to everyone who applied.

A lottery will select 12 restaurants on Thursday, December 1 at 1:30 p.m. and the location is TBA.

The new program will begin on Monday, December 12, 2022.

Thank you for your interest in helping your community! This program is designed to contract with Anchorage-based restaurants to prepare meals for local underserved communities. This is an opportunity to support both the service industry and those who are experiencing food insecurity. 

In Memoriam: John Ivanoff, Time Out Lounge

/in

We are saddened by the loss of John Ivanoff of Time Out Lounge here in Anchorage.

We all loved and respected John. He was Alaska Hospitality Retailer’s board secretary, founder, leader, and a tremendous supporter of our association.

John was family to all of us at Alaska Hospitality Retailers. His legacy in our association will continue through his family. Thoughts and prayers to his family at this time.