coronavirus

Industries all across the country are experiencing the disruptive impact of the COVID-19. Discover how it could affect the U.S. foodservice, grocery and convenience industries.

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 19, 2025

Widespread dining room closures forced sit-down operators to embrace convenience. But consumers still want an experience too.

Premium

Workforce

The restaurant labor landscape has vastly improved since the pandemic

By Lisa Jennings on Mar. 19, 2025

After a tumultuous five years, recruitment and retention is back to pre-COVID rates. But labor costs are more than 30% higher, and employers are still struggling to make the math work.

Premium

Technology

COVID made delivery a way of life for restaurants

By Joe Guszkowski on Mar. 18, 2025

The pandemic introduced many Americans to the ease and convenience of food delivery. It has now become too big for restaurants to ignore.

Financing

How the business has, and has not, changed since the pandemic

By Jonathan Maze on Mar. 14, 2025

Five years after the COVID pandemic, the restaurant business is as big as it’s ever been. But it has also changed in ways both significant and subtle.

Financing

Restaurateur who stole $3.2 million in COVID aid is sentenced to 2 years in prison

By Peter Romeo on Apr. 18, 2024

Donald Finley, owner-operator of the now-closed Jekyll & Hyde eatertainment concept in New York City, has already repaid the funds he received from the Paycheck Protection Program and another government program.

Operations

In-N-Out tells its employees to stop wearing masks

By Jonathan Maze on Jul. 18, 2023

The burger chain told workers outside of California and Oregon that they are not allowed to wear masks on the job.

Financing

Feds say they stopped $3B in pandemic restaurant aid from going astray

By Peter Romeo on Jun. 28, 2023

About 31,000 requests for aid were rejected for being invalid or outright fraudulent, according to the SBA. Now it's investigating 720 RRF grants that may be bogus.

Financing