Building Careers, Serving Customers, Providing Choice

America's restaurants are the cornerstones of the nation's economy, providing career opportunities for more Americans than any other private sector employer. Our industry includes more than 935,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and 12.8 million people. A majority of the industry is made up of small business owners who embody the spirit of entrepreneurship in America today.

Building Careers:

Restaurants are one of America's largest private sector employers, providing jobs for 12.8 million people - with two million more coming in the next decade. More than three out of 10 Americans began their working lives in a restaurant, and nearly half of all adults have worked in a restaurant during their careers. Restaurant business offers many career opportunities and advancement. For instance, nine out of 10 salaried restaurant employees began their careers on hourly wages. In 2005, statistics show that restaurant managers and many other restaurant employees earn higher than average wages - more than $44,000 annually.

There are a wide range of job possibilities available in the restaurant business, from corporate to front-of-the-house, from general manager to pastry chef.

Restaurants employ more minority managers than any other American industry, and provide excellent entrepreneurial opportunities. More hospitality businesses are owned by African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans than the average for all American businesses. In fact, women and minorities represent three out of five restaurant owners, compared to less than half of all businesses.

Contribution to U.S. Economy:

Restaurants play an essential role in the lives of nearly every American and the restaurant industry has a tremendous financial impact on the nation's economy.

The restaurant industry is growing faster than America's economy - and restaurant sales now account for 4 percent of the U.S. GDP. In 2007, restaurant sales are projected to reach $537 billion, generating a total economic impact of $1.3 trillion to the nation's economy. Statistics show that every dollar spent dining out generates $2.34 in business for other industries.

While the restaurant industry serves as the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement, it also is the cornerstone of tourism. Many restaurants rely on travelers for the success of their business, and many travelers would not consider a trip successful if it didn't include great dining experiences. Dining out is a destination activity for virtually all travelers, whether traveling for business or pleasure.  

Serving Customers:  

America's restaurants are committed to service - serving what our customers want and investing in our industry and its people to deliver the service they expect. Once a luxury that only the very wealthy could afford, dining out is now an enjoyable convenience that every American can afford. On a typical day, 132 million people patronize America's restaurants. As customers' tastes and wants have changed over the years, restaurants have changed the menu choices to reflect those changes. Greater diversity on the menu is the biggest trend in restaurant dining today

Providing Choice:

America's restaurants continue to provide an incredible array of choice for customers. More than seven out of 10 Americans say they are trying to eat healthier at restaurants than they did two years ago. Some of the hottest food and beverage trends right now include bite-size desserts, locally grown produce, organic produce, and bottled water. A vast majority of restaurants also offer to-go packaging, allowing customers to save a portion of their meal to enjoy at another mealtime.

With more options comes responsibility to make balanced choices. Restaurateurs are offering healthier options to meet their customers' requests, but it's also important that we all realize the need for a balanced, healthy lifestyle.  

The nation's restaurants have long been committed to promoting a balanced lifestyle that includes both diet and exercise, and the restaurant industry endorses helping Americans live better through three simple steps - balance, moderation and physical activity.  

Restaurants continue to contribute to national and grassroots efforts that encourage and promote healthy lifestyles through balance, moderation and physical and nutrition education programs, and maintain their role as the industry of choice, providing a wide variety of foods in a variety of venues to accommodate any consumers' dietary needs.

Food Safety:

The restaurant industry works hard to keep food safety as an essential ingredient in every meal. Employees are regularly taught food safety procedures and programs. In fact, more than 300,000 food service employees earn their ServSafe® food safety certification after completing food safety training each year.

Preliminary data recently released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the annual incidence of several foodborne illnesses decreased significantly in 2005 when compared to the baseline years of 1996 - 1998. The Centers' data indicates incidences of foodborne illness caused by E. coli declined by 29 percent, Listeria by 32 percent, and Salmonella by 9 percent.

Community Involvement:

Restaurants are not only the cornerstones of the economy in the United States; they are the cornerstones of our local neighborhoods. Vitrually all restaurant owners are involved in the community. They are your friends, neighbors, and relatives and take great pride in contributing to the overall health and well-being of their community.

Restaurateurs perform a variety of community services each year, donating time, money and food. They are volunteers for many community improvement projects, and participate in health programs, in school-to-work or adopt-a-school programs and community literacy/education programs.

Restaurants help in the fight against hunger by donating prepared food to shelters and food banks, participating in fundraisers for anti-hunger organizations or making cash donations. They support health-related causes, mentor youth, raise money for charities, and donate food and space.

In fact, more than eight out of 10 restaurant operators surveyed recently said giving back to the community was a "very important" reason for their participation in local community events.