I’ve noticed a ton of press recently about restaurants going moving to an all inclusive menu or no tipping policy. Back in February we posted a blog, Time to End Tips?, on the topic and it got heated to say the least in the comments and on our social media channels. Click here to read that …
minimum wage
Same Store Sales Increase in August
Driven by Fast Casual, the restaurant industry posted strong same store sales in August according to the Black Box Intelligence report. Here are some of the stats from the Nation’s Restaurant News article: 1.7% increase in same store sales in August YTD same store sales up 2.2% The industry can post it’s 5th straight quarter of …
Staffing Challenges in North Jersey
An article over the weekend in The Record interviews a few folks in the restaurant industry in norther New Jersey about some of the challenges they are facing around finding and keeping employees. It’s not just isolated to one specific function, but all employees in all departments that are becoming increasingly more difficult to staff. …
Slower Restaurant Employment Growth in San Fran & Seattle
A preliminary look into employment data by Forbes Contributor Stephen Bronars points to slower employment growth since the minimum wage increases in San Francisco and Seattle. In the article Higher Minimum Wages in San Francisco and Seattle Mean Fewer Restaurant Jobs takes a look at year over year quarterly changes in employment averages. Here are …
Scientific Trick to Increase Server Tips
I was watching this YouTube video, a summary of Robert Cialdini’s book Influence. They talked about experiments that were run in restaurants and how the server’s used the rule of reciprocation to increase tips. The reciprocation principle recognizes that people feel indebted to those who give them a gift. The social obligation to return a …
Will Minimum Wage Increases Accelerate the Robot Invasion?
There’s an interesting article in the Washington Post, “Minimum-wage offensive could speed arrival of robot-powered restaurants”, suggesting that $15/hr minimum wage will accelerate the move to robots in restaurants. It mentions that shedding labor in the restaurant industry isn’t a new phenomenon. According to the article in the late 60’s a McDonald’s would have 70-80 …
CEOs Discuss $15/Hr Minimum Wage
This past week or so we have seen a lot in the news about Restaurant CEO’s speaking out on the $15 minimum wage push. The one that got the most press was Nigel Travis of Dunkin’ Brands, calling it “outrageous”. CNN Money posted an article today on the subject with thoughts from Sally Smith of …
Dunkin Brand CEO Blasts NY State
The NRA posted this article today where Dunkin’ Brands CEO Nigel Travis was critical of NY State lawmakers. Below are excerpts and you can view the entire article by clicking here. Dunkin’ Brands Group Inc. CEO Nigel Travis criticized New York State lawmakers Thursday for “choosing to skirt the legislative process” by appointing a wage …