More than 130 subscribers to NRN a.m. — the daily e-newsletter from Nation’s Restaurant News — took an online survey last month, helping to shed light on what the industry is expecting in the year ahead.
Respondents to the NRN a.m. 2011 Restaurant Operator Survey said higher commodity costs will be the industry’s biggest challenge this year. Nearly 39 percent chose higher commodity costs from a selection of five challenges.
The high U.S. unemployment rate and stalled consumer spending came in behind commodity cost concerns as leading industry challenges, with about 20 percent of the vote for each selection. The increased scrutiny foodservice faces from the federal government and lack of growth capital each garnered about 10 percent of the vote.
Restaurant outlook 2011
