MA Restaurant Association (MRA)

08/28/2026

What a night at Cosmica 🎉

Last Tuesday night we joined Chef Melissa Garcia and the team at Cosmica at the Revolution Hotel for an evening celebrating her role as Executive Chef and introducing her bold Mexican cuisine to the community.

Born in Cartago, Colombia, Chef Garcia developed her refined and soulful culinary style in acclaimed Boston kitchens alongside chefs including Ken Oringer and Charles Draghi. Her food tells a story and last night, she told it beautifully.

The evening featured handcrafted appetizers, house-made sangria from the Cosmica mixology team, and DJ Angel Javier setting the tone with salsa, Latin soul, and tropical rhythms.

Congratulations to Chef Melissa and the entire Cosmica team. You are a wonderful addition to Boston dining 🙌

Have you visited Cosmica yet?

08/27/2026

Food Safety Update: Recalled Produce and What Operators Need to Know

U.S. health officials are actively investigating cyclospora outbreaks that have sickened nearly 14,000 people since May, and a salmonella outbreak now affecting 27 states.

Recalled products and suspected sources:
Imported iceberg lettuce (cyclospora, sourced from Mexico)
Jalapeño peppers (salmonella, sourced from Mexico)

Both have been recalled. Restaurant operators should review FDA guidelines on handling recalled produce during a foodborne illness outbreak immediately.

MRA is monitoring these investigations alongside the National Restaurant Association.

Full FDA guidance: https://restaurant.org/education-and-resources/resource-library/how-to-handle-recalled-produce-during-a-foodborne-illness/?mkt_tok=MDc4LVpMQS00NjEAAAGjvsRLDnE0D6h32iqJMJdz2kELX6lguxynnhj0I6vNwvv79812mXyIoGp3jAsIbhtsDsBz72SUD1mXRTIQ5dg-Oyj-0iw_8lXADs3M5i-4wtgp

Stay informed. Protect your guests.

08/26/2026

Today: Free NRA Webinar on GLP-1 and the Restaurant Industry

GLP-1 medications are reshaping how millions of Americans approach food and dining. As adoption grows, the question for restaurant operators is simple: what does this mean for your business?

Join the National Restaurant Association today, August 26 at 2PM ET, for a discussion of their latest consumer research on GLP-1 users and their dining behaviors.

Speakers:
Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist, NRA
Laura Abshire, Senior Director of Food and Supply Chain Policy
Maggie Gentile, Head of Food and Nutrition Policy, Food Directions

What will be covered:
Changing consumer habits and menu preferences
How GLP-1 adoption affects restaurant traffic and spending
Opportunities to meet diners where they are

Free. Today. August 26 at 2PM ET.

Register: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5453266/F5DCF0B7BD61302D42837A0BB339EABD?mkt_tok=MDc4LVpMQS00NjEAAAGjvsRLDsfBnZH4FndxhNWZBbugBTLRqTR3n5XP0OEgoY9BuNMyBaJfGivj2gtDhm5ZuuWmcwyRxuT911j_yKbzDzY4X9tZ7Lx9KoUFLmX69k2z

Are you joining?

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

08/25/2026

That’s a wrap on another great MRA Annual Golf Tournament!

First, a huge thank you to Pinehills Golf Club for hosting us and helping make the day such a success.

After several years of unpredictable weather, it was especially nice to see some sunshine for this year’s tournament. We had a record number of golfer sand a whole lot of fun along the way.

An extra thank you to all of our members who participated in our first ever “Hole of Fortune”. Our game of chance featured eight possible cards, each with its own twist. Some made your tee shot a little easier, while others made it significantly more interesting. We saw Happy Gilmore swings, blindfolded drives, one-legged tee shots, and a whole lot of laughs. And if you pulled the golden card? An automatic birdie sent you straight to the next hole. Most importantly, your willingness to play along helped us raise more than $2,000 for the MRA Education Foundation.

Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this such a fun and memorable day. We’ll see you on the course next year!

08/24/2026

This Week in the Restaurant Economy 📊

Lower energy costs temper consumer inflation despite solid menu price growth: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/menu-prices/
Wholesale food prices fell sharply in July:https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/food-costs/
Restaurant sales rose for the fourth consecutive month in July:https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/total-restaurant-industry-sales/

Three positive signals heading into fall. The industry is moving in the right direction.

08/23/2026

Massachusetts Legislative Session Update: What Restaurant Operators Need to Know 🏛️

The session is winding down but it is not over yet.

While most new bills won't advance this year, measures already in conference committee can still move before the session fully wraps up. For restaurant operators, that means several important bills are still in play including proposals affecting:

- Alcohol policy and licensing
- Labor rules and business costs
- Energy costs
- Other issues impacting day-to-day operations

MRA's advocacy team is actively monitoring all relevant measures and will keep members updated as negotiations continue.

See what's in conference committee:https://files.constantcontact.com/0d5bb3c6be/e7119287-a7bf-4487-8400-d76b9a6b2a98.pdf

Which legislative issue matters most to your business right now?

08/21/2026

Megan is on the road and loving every stop 🚗✨

MRA's Director of Member Engagement, Megan Bol, has been making her way across Massachusetts since joining the team visiting member restaurants, meeting the people behind the industry, and hearing firsthand what matters most to operators right now.

She's been to quite a few stops already. There are many more to come.

If you haven't heard from Megan yet, you will. And if you'd like to connect sooner:

Have you had a visit from Megan yet?

08/21/2026

Good news for Massachusetts restaurant operators 📋

The U.S. Treasury's FinCEN has permanently removed the requirement for U.S. companies to report Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) under the Corporate Transparency Act.

What this means for your restaurant:
- No requirement to file or update BOI reports with FinCEN
- Previously submitted BOI for U.S. persons will be deleted
- No further updates required for U.S. individuals who obtained FinCEN IDs

This eliminates a compliance burden that affected millions of small businesses including thousands of Massachusetts restaurant operators.

Full Treasury press release: https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0603
Updated FinCEN FAQs: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.fincen.gov/system/files/2026-08/QAs_BOIFinalRule.pd

Will Delete Information Previously Reported by U.S. PersonsWASHINGTON––Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is issuing a final rule that permanently removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report beneficial ownership ...

08/20/2026

This training could cost you nothing🎓

The Restaurant Leadership Institute Executive Learning Series kicks off September 15 and both sessions that day are 100% reimbursable through the Commonwealth Corporation Express Grant Program.

September 15 Two Sessions:

Morning (10AM–12:30PM)
Professional Kitchen Operations: Leading the Modern Culinary Organization
with Professor Brian Connors
- Modern kitchen systems, technology, and AI applications
- Strategies to reduce food, labor, and operating costs
- Leadership practices that drive consistency and profitability

Afternoon (1:30–4PM)
Leading Dynamic Teams: Leading High-Performing Restaurant Teams
with Professor Brian Connors
- Coaching techniques that improve employee performance
- Building trust and accountability
- Creating a culture that supports retention

The grant requires approval BEFORE training apply now before September 15.

Register for AM: https://book.stripe.com/7sY7sL3SAalO7Ehc1W8g002
Register for PM: https://book.stripe.com/cNi6oHexedy02jXgic8g003
Check grant eligibility: chrome-extensio://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://files.constantcontact.com/0d5bb3c6be/311e01e8-9c7c-4101-b433-7785224daf44.pdf

Tag a manager or chef on your team who should be in this room!

08/17/2026

This Week in the Restaurant Economy 📊
Restaurant and lodging job openings softened in June: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/restaurant-job-openings/

U.S. job market disappointed in July as labor participation continues to drop: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/total-u-s-jobs/

Restaurant job growth stalled in recent months: https://restaurant.org/research-and-media/research/restaurant-economic-insights/economic-indicators/total-restaurant-industry-jobs/

The labor market is sending cautious signals heading into fall. Worth watching closely as you plan your staffing strategy.

How are you approaching fall staffing?

Restaurant and lodging job openings softened in June