The panel series will bring together community experts in four cities
across the country to discuss labor shortage, food waste and driving
traffic in the restaurant industry
ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) announced today that its popular
panel discussion series, Talk Shop Live!, is returning this fall. The
series is designed to help restaurant operators “Make It” by bringing
together a diverse group of experts to share honest thoughts on
culinary, social, cultural and economic factors in the food industry.
This year, award-winning chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson will
host the four-city tour that addresses timely topics such as the skilled
labor shortage, food waste and attracting customers in competitive
environments.
The tour will kick-off on Sept. 11 in Denver, Colo., and continue in
Detroit, Mich., Austin, Texas and Raleigh, N.C. Throughout the tour,
hundreds of local restaurant owners and operators will engage directly
with local panelists, have open conversations about the issues they face
and take away actionable insights and solutions for their business. The
tour will wrap-up with key highlights showcased during the company’s Food
Fanatics Live™ event in New York on Oct. 24.
“I’m looking forward to teaming up with US Foods to host these
conversations, discover new ways to help operators stay on top of
important issues and ultimately help chefs and restaurant owners be
successful,” said Chef Samuelsson. “While building my career as a chef
and restaurant owner, I’ve learned that the best way to face challenges
in this industry is with honest conversation."
Chef Samuelsson will moderate each of the four Talk Shop Live! events
and will be joined by local chefs, restaurant owners and industry
experts. Each event will focus on one of the following topics:
-
Skilled Labor Shortage: As the restaurant industry continues to
surge, with a forecast of 1.7 million new restaurant positions by 20251,
there is an overwhelming need for trained and dedicated staff. These
discussions will focus on identifying solutions for finding skilled
labor in foodservice now, including the most effective and profitable
ways to schedule and train staff.
-
Food Waste: About 11.4 million tons of food is wasted
annually by the U.S. restaurant industry, which costs about $25
billion per year2. Waste is a costly part of running a
restaurant, but it can be reduced with effective solutions. Talk Shop
Live! will explore how chefs and operators can reduce over-ordered,
over-prepped and over-portioned food in their restaurants by
streamlining ordering and inventory and using leftovers in creative
ways.
-
Attracting Customers in Competitive Environments: According to
the National
Restaurant Association's research and knowledge group, there are
more than one million restaurants in the U.S. and about 10,000 units
are added each year3. In order to succeed, having a steady
stream of customers is a non-negotiable. And in today’s digital world,
that means making sure your online presence drives customers through
your doors. This discussion will focus on what information and tools
restaurants need to be competitive and drive diners from the web into
restaurants.
Below are the stops and dates for the 2018 Talk Shop Live! tour:
-
Denver, Colo., Tuesday, Sept. 11 (Skilled Labor Shortage)
-
Detroit, Mich., Tuesday, Sept. 25 (Skilled Labor Shortage)
-
Austin, Texas, Monday, Oct. 1 (Food Waste)
-
Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, Oct. 16 (Driving Traffic)
“Talk Shop Live! is a key example of our collaborative approach to being
a partner and trusted resource independent restaurants can depend on for
innovative business solutions,” said Diane Hund, senior vice president
of marketing, US Foods. “The panels are addressing complicated and
timely issues facing the industry. As part of our ‘Great Food. Made
Easy’ strategy, it’s our mission to bring operators across the country
actionable insights and solutions to these pain points.”
For more information about US Foods, please visit www.usfoods.com.
To learn more about Talk Shop Live! events, get information on featured
panelists and watch the live streams of the events, please visit www.usfoods.com/talkshoplive.
About US Foods
US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading
foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000
restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed.
With 25,000 employees and more than 60 locations, US Foods provides its
customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive
suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is
headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. and generates approximately $24 billion
in annual revenue. Visit www.usfoods.com
to learn more.
1
Bureau of Labor Statistics
2
Restaurant Food Waste Action Guide, ReFED
3
Restaurant Business, Apr. 17, 2018, “Here’s How
Competitive the Restaurant Industry Really Is”
View source version on businesswire.com:
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US Foods
Sara Matheu, 847-720-2392
Director of Media Relations
Sara.Matheu@usfoods.com
Source: US Foods