Arizona Restaurant Association

10/20/2025

🏆 The countdown is on! Nominations for the 2025 Foodist Awards close 10/24 — don’t miss your chance to spotlight your favorites across all 19 award categories!

From Top Chef to Best Happy Hour, we want to hear who you think deserves the win. 🙌

💡 You can nominate in every category (and yes, multiples too!).

Submit now before time runs out — https://bit.ly/2026Foodist

09/25/2025

Congratulations to our member Darden Restaurants for their generous donation to more Feeding AmericaAmerica member food banks.

We along with the National Restaurant Association are so proud of their continued partnership with local food banks & their commitment to ending food insecurity.

Read More:

/PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth year, Darden Restaurants and Feeding America® are putting more wheels on the road to help end hunger. With a $2 million grant...

04/03/2024

This year, we're seeing some big changes in how people eat. More people are ordering catering, showing that convenience and celebrating at home are becoming more popular. This matches with a growing interest in high-quality meals at home, with a lot more people ordering food online. In drinks, whiskey and wine are becoming more popular, but so are non-alcoholic drinks. This shows that people want different things – sometimes they want to indulge, and sometimes they prefer something lighter.

At the same time, there's a trend of going back to classic dishes but with a new twist. Chefs are bringing back old favorites and adding modern touches. People are also looking for food that's not too expensive but still feels special and authentic. This interest in both the past and the present is changing how restaurants think about their menus and how they connect with their customers. More and more, the line between eating out and cooking at home is getting blurry, with restaurants starting to offer ingredients and recipes for home cooks. These changes show how creative and flexible the food world is becoming, and suggest that eating and cooking are becoming more connected in interesting ways.

04/01/2024

Adding popular online recipes to a restaurant's menu can make it more attractive and bring in more customers. People like trying dishes they've seen on the internet. For restaurant owners, it's important to pick trends that fit well with their current menu and what their customers like. This way, the new items feel right and don't seem out of place. Sharing these new dishes on social media can get even more people interested and bring them into the restaurant.

Right now, dishes like chopped sandwiches and upside-down puff pastries are very popular because they're new and can be changed up in many ways. Drinks with added flavors and dishes with feta or cottage cheese are also getting a lot of attention for being different and looking good. These trends are a chance for restaurants to update their menus in fun ways that attract people who follow food trends. By getting involved in these viral food trends, restaurants can offer something exciting and new, which keeps customers coming back and helps the restaurant stand out in a fast-changing food scene!

03/29/2024

Dynamic pricing is making waves across the fast-food industry, introducing a paradigm where prices adjust in real-time based on demand. This concept, while not new, has been brought into the spotlight by recent discussions surrounding Wendy’s exploration of time-based pricing in the U.S. Despite the controversy and the mixed reactions from consumers, dynamic pricing is a trend that’s gaining traction, driven by advancements in AI and data analytics.

It's a strategy that seeks to optimize operations, from procurement to staffing, to better align product offerings with consumer demand, potentially leading to more efficient service and reduced waste. However, the ethical implications and consumer acceptance of such pricing strategies remain areas of debate. As the industry evolves, finding ways to leverage dynamic pricing to benefit both businesses and consumers will be key.

03/27/2024

As the spring training season gets underway, Arizona's dining scene shines with a variety of restaurants that have caught the eye of Food Network and Netflix. For locals and visitors here for the games, there's a rich selection of places to eat, each bringing its own special touch to the table.

Featured in the Netflix series "Taco Chronicles," spots like Taco Boy's, Tacos Chiwas, Bacanora, and Fry Bread House are celebrated for their true-to-origin and regional flavors, offering a slice of Mexican culinary traditions in Phoenix. Taco Boy's is particularly noted for its Sonoran-style tacos, providing a taste of Mexico's Sonora right here in Arizona.

Phoenix's food scene is filled with notable eateries, including Pizzeria Bianco, highlighted on Netflix’s "Chef’s Table Pizza" for its handcrafted pizzas. Alongside spots like Matt’s Big Breakfast and Barrio Café, they form a vibrant mix of dining experiences across the state.

From traditional Italian at DeFalco’s Italian Eatery and Grocery to fresh Vietnamese at Slanted Rice, Arizona's restaurants offer a wide range of dishes to suit any taste. This spring invites everyone to explore and enjoy the diverse and delicious options that make dining in Arizona a unique and enjoyable experience. With such a variety to choose from, it's a great opportunity to support local businesses and discover the culinary delights that define our community.

03/25/2024

The news: On March 11, a Department of Labor (DOL) rule dictating how employers should determine whether their employees qualify as independent contractors took effect. The 2024 Final Rule, which DOL issued Jan. 10, rescinds and replaces the Trump administration’s more streamlined worker classification while returning to the “totality of the circumstances” standard.

Dive deeper: Under this rule, DOL returns to a 6-factor test, with no one factor presumed to carry more weight than another. This new standard undermines clarity and predictability for businesses. In addition, the complexity of the new rule will likely require operators to consult with qualified legal counsel. The rule’s ambiguity could also lead to inconsistent classifications and increased litigation risks.

Key takeaway: The rule is expected to make it more difficult for companies to categorize workers as independent contractors, rather than employees. However, platforms in the gig economy, such as app-based rideshare and delivery services, do not expect the new rule to alter the classification of their drivers.

Why it matters: The distinction between employee and independent contractor determines whether the individual is entitled to the federal minimum wage and overtime.

What’s next: The Association supports H.J. Res 116 and S.J. Res 63, resolutions to repeal DOL’s final Independent Contractor rule through the Congressional Review Act. Earlier this month, the Association joined a coalition of organizations in sending a letter to Congress in support of this effort. The Association also supports the Employee Rights Act, which would streamline the definition of "employee" across federal law.

03/15/2024

Maintaining good controls is important for many reasons. Not only does it help to ensure reliable financial information and the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, it also helps to prevent and detect fraudulent acts by employees and others, such as theft. Proper controls should be in place to minimize the opportunity for theft and maintaining effective operations.

Weekly controls – Controls should include (but are not limited to) the following:

-Controls should be in place so that the person responsible for counting the drawer at the end of the night is not the same individual making the deposit in the bank.
-Making deposits of cash frequently (daily is best) and keeping all undeposited cash locked in a safe.
-Controls should be in place so the person handling cash, such as making the deposit, does not also have access to modify the accounting records.
-Controls should be in place to reconcile daily deposit reports and compare these reports to both what is deposited in the bank and reports from the point of sale.
-Only management should be able to void register over-rings and mistakes and have access to register or point-of-sale (POS) system readings.
-Each cashier or server should have their own register or separate account and password for their use of the POS system. A receipt should be given to each customer for every sale.
-When making purchases, a list of approved vendors should be used.
-A purchase order system should be used when possible.
-A policy should be in place regarding the receipt of gifts from vendors.
-Payroll registers should be reviewed by management prior to processing.
-Review the results of store performance for accuracy. Office computers and POS files should be backed up regularly, with offsite storage of backup copies.

The controls noted above are just a sample of a few very important controls to consider. There are additional daily, weekly, monthly and yearly controls that need to also be considered depending on the needs of the company.

03/14/2024

In 2023, Arizona's food and beverage posted sales of over $22 billion, marking a 5.8% increase compared to the previous year. However, when adjusted for inflation, sales experienced a slight dip of 1.9%. While this decline in real sales was notable, it's not anticipated to recur. Arizona faced elevated inflation rates in 2023, surpassing many national averages, but recent trends indicate a reversal, with nominal sales growth remaining steady. Looking ahead to 2024, the Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) projects total restaurant sales to surpass $23.1 billion, with inflation projected to hover below 3%, translating to a real growth rate of 2%.

Throughout 2023, total restaurant employment in Arizona averaged 259,000 workers, marking a notable 3.5% increase from the previous year. Although job growth within the restaurant sector is expected to persist in 2024, it's anticipated to proceed at a slower pace compared to previous years. The ARA forecasts that the restaurant industry will employ an additional 7,800 workers in 2024.

In 2023, restaurants in Arizona disbursed an estimated $7.4 billion in payroll (excluding tips), showcasing a substantial 9.6% surge from 2022, equivalent to approximately $20.2 million per day. The ARA projects total payroll to increase to $7.9 billion in 2024.

The total count of restaurants in Arizona reached an average of 12,151 in 2023, representing a net increase of 556 units from the previous year. Despite the rise in units, the average sales per store saw an uptick from $1.799 million to $1.815 million. Projections from the ARA indicate that Arizona will witness the addition of approximately 540 new restaurant units in 2024, with average per-store sales expected to climb to $1.825 million.

Nationally, the restaurant industry achieved a historic milestone in 2023, surpassing $1 trillion in sales for the first time, marking an 8.6% surge from 2022. Sales growth is anticipated to persist in 2024, albeit at a slightly reduced rate of 5.4%, with projected sales reaching $1.1 trillion.

At the national level, the restaurant industry's employment count rebounded to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, totaling 15.5 million workers, constituting 10% of the total U.S. workforce. The foodservice workforce is anticipated to continue expanding in 2024, although the labor market is expected to remain tight, resulting in a projected growth of 200,000 jobs.

03/13/2024

The restaurant world is buzzing with excitement as it rides a wave of innovation and a boom in takeout and delivery options, setting its sights on breaking the $1.1 trillion mark in sales by 2024. This enthusiasm stems from the National Restaurant Association's latest findings, which spotlight how our love for eating out remains strong, even as we bounce back from the pandemic's economic ripples. Thanks to a bustling economy and more jobs, people are eager to dine out again. Hudson Riehle, the brains behind the Association's research, points out how tech and new ways to serve food outside the traditional restaurant setting are helping tackle some big hurdles, like finding enough staff to keep things running smoothly.

However, it's not all smooth sailing. Restaurants are staring down the barrel of some tough challenges, especially when it comes to making ends meet. With the cost of everything from ingredients to wages on the rise (think $20 per hour in places like California), restaurant owners are having to get creative with how they run their businesses. There's also a fresh take on hiring, with gig work offering a more flexible approach to staffing, thanks to tech tools that let people pick and choose their gigs. This shift could really change the game for how restaurants find and keep their teams together.

Then there's the tech takeover in how we order and enjoy our meals. The report sheds light on how younger diners, in particular, are all in on using apps and other tech for their food fixes, especially when they're not eating in. Loyalty programs are also getting a big thumbs up, with diners loving the perks and treats they can score. And let's not forget about delivery services, which have become a staple of our dining habits, adding a layer of convenience we've quickly gotten used to. Another trend that's catching on is mixing up home-cooked meals with restaurant dishes, a hit especially with the younger crowd, showcasing how our dining habits are evolving. It's a fascinating time for the restaurant industry as it adapts, innovates, and moves forward into the future.

03/11/2024

Calling all bartenders, mixologists, and cocktail aficionados! We are happy to announce that the deadline for the Spirit of Phoenix Cocktail Competition is extended to Monday, March 18 at noon.

Whether you’re a seasoned bartender or a home mixologist, this competition is open to all who are passionate about the art of cocktail making. This is your chance to craft a drink that pays homage to the city’s energy and charm. Whether it’s the desert landscaping, the bustling city life, or the rich history, we want your cocktail to embody the essence of Phoenix.

So, mark your calendars and get those cocktails ready. The new deadline gives you more time to perfect your recipe and submit your entry. Let’s raise a glass to creativity and camaraderie in the world of mixology!

https://www.visitphoenix.com/phoenix-cocktail-contest/

City of Phoenix, AZ USA & Visit Phoenix