What We Do
We Represent Restaurants
Restaurants need a powerful voice before Congress and federal regulatory agencies because Uncle Sam's long arm reaches into every facet of the $558 billion restaurant business. The National Restaurant Association — ranked among the "Power 25" lobbying organization by Fortune magazine — promotes a pro-restaurant agenda on critical restaurant issues like the minimum wage, food safety, and IRS tip audits. Through the NRA-PAC and Save American Free Enterprise Fund, we work to help elect pro-restaurant candidates and battle anti-restaurant intiaitives.
We Promote the Restaurant Industry
The National Restaurant Association and its Educational Foundation promote dining out, encourage restaurant careers, publicize the industry's commitment to food safety, highlight the restaurant industry's impact on the economy and local communities.
Through our Cornerstone Initiative, outreach to the media, and more, we get the word out.
We Offer Access to Information
Our Information Service & Library, reports and publications, and our research deliver the information that helps restaurateurs manage their businesses better. Get your questions answered:
- How many times a week do people eat out?
- What should I consider when buying a POS system?
- How can I reduce employee turnover?
- What are the trends in the fast-food segment?
- How do you grill corn in the husk?
- How do I write an employee manual?
- Where can I get a restaurant management degree?
We Offer Networking Opportunities
The NRA Show, the restaurant industry's biggest show, attracts 2,000 of the industry's leading suppliers and 70,000+ attendees for networking, education, and an unparalleled exhibition area.
Our Executive Study Groups bring together senior-level restaurant industry executives in specific disciplines to network with peers from across the nation.
We Help Nurture and Grow the Restaurant-Industry Workforce
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) delivers top-quality training to restaurant and foodservice professionals. Focusing on three key strategies -- risk management, recruitment and retention -- the NRAEF is the premier provider of educational resources, materials and programs to help attract and develop a strong industry workforce. Sales from all NRAEF products and services benefit the industry by directly supporting the NRAEF's educational initiatives.
ServSafe® Food Safety Training Program
The ServSafe® Food Safety Training Program leads the way in providing current and comprehensive educational materials to the restaurant industry. More than 2 million foodservice professionals have been certified through the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Exam, which is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-Conference for Food Protection (CFP). ServSafe training and certification is recognized by more federal, state and local jurisdictions than any other food safety certification.
ServSafe Alcohol™
This risk management training and certification program outlines effective, responsible alcohol-service practices for all front-of-the-house staff: bartenders, waiters, hosts, busers, security and valets. Using a holistic approach, the program advocates team-based prevention of various, challenging intoxication situations.
Visit www.nraef.org for all our training.
Leadership and Management Program Featuring Harvard ManageMentor®Plus
This program’s approach combines the online learning tool developed by Harvard Business School Publishing eLearning –- Harvard ManageMentorPLUS -- and an NRAEF-developed implementation guide that shows companies how to use in-house discussion groups and practical exercises to help managers apply their new knowledge on the job. This affordable, flexible program is built specifically to help restaurant and foodservice employees build soft skills to complement operations expertise.
ProStart® Program
Involving more than 45,000 high school juniors and seniors, the ProStart program puts students on paths for careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry. Conducted in close partnership with state restaurant associations, the ProStart program combines classroom instruction with mentored work-site experiences, and is currently available in more than 1,100 schools in 45 states and territories.
ManageFirstTM Program
The ManageFirst program is a unique, competency-based certificate program developed for colleges and universities. Created with input from more than 200 industry experts, including academics, operators, trainers, hiring managers and executives, the NRAEF ManageFirst Program focuses on 12 topics deemed essential for management success in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry.
Scholarships Program
This program provides $2,000 scholarships to high school students and undergraduate students, and $1,500 scholarships to educators who have demonstrated a commitment to continuing their restaurant and foodservice education and pursuing a career in the industry. This program is funded through corporate and individual contributions as well as proceeds from the sale of NRAEF products and annual events.
Foodservice Management Professional® (FMP®)
The FMP credential distinguishes restaurant and foodservice managers who achieve the high level of knowledge, experience, leadership and professionalism that the restaurant industry most desires.
