Restaurant Growth to Hit 10-Year High
estaurant industry are expected to reach $399 billion in 2001, a 5.2% increase over last year, marking the restaurant and food-service industry's 10th consecutive year of real sales growth, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2001 Restaurant Industry Forecast.
In 2001, sales at full-service restaurants are projected to grow 6.6% (from $134.5 billion to $143.3 billion) over 2000, and should continue to outpace sales growth at limited-service restaurants, where sales are expected to increase by 4.4%, from $107.3 billion in 2000 to $112 billion. And the growing number of higher-income households continues to drive the social catering business, as sales in that segment are expected to jump 6.2% in 2001 to $3.9 billion.
Fla. Implements Food-Safety Training
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Food-service operators in Florida are busy spending the new year implementing a new law requiring all food-handling employees to undergo certification training in food safety and sanitation. Any restaurant or food establishment that is inspected by the state must implement training, which costs $6 per employee; certification is good for three years.
The law is expected to affect half a million workers statewide, and was a compromise between the industry and lawmakers, who originally wanted to mandate hepatitis A vaccinations for all food handlers. The vaccinations would have cost $58 each, according to officials with the Florida Restaurant Association.
