Financing

Why independent restaurants are recovering more slowly than chains

RB Senior Editor Heather Lalley joins the “A Deeper Dive” podcast to talk about the alcohol shortage and the many challenges still facing small operators.

When will independent restaurants catch a break?

This week’s episode of the Restaurant Business podcast “A Deeper Dive” features a discussion on the state of independent restaurants with Senior Editor Heather Lalley.

Restaurants are currently facing a major shortage of alcohol, which has made it difficult to get some specific brands—the latest in a string of shortages that have affected all kinds of businesses. Yet independents, unsurprisingly, are feeling the brunt of this.

Independents are also facing a host of other challenges and have not recovered quite as well as have chain restaurants. They are at a major disadvantage on labor issues, technology adoption and food costs, among other things.

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