If you work in the restaurant industry, then it is extremely helpful to stay up-to-date on the latest restaurant information. Whether it entails restaurant research, the latest products or other foodservice information, being able to spot the trends and react to the news will give you an edge over your competitor. And there are certainly many competitors in the restaurant industry.

But before you go diving off a cliff in search of restaurant and foodservice information resources, there are a few things you should consider. It's wise to find the portion of the industry that affects your portion of the business. For instance, a head chef will be interested in different aspects than a seafood coordinator or alcoholic beverage distributor. Here are some reputable restaurant resources to obtain the knowledge you are seeking.

1. Visit the websites of national restaurant associations for the latest on foodservice information.

2. Obtain reports to learn more about restaurant and foodservice information resources news and trends.

3. Read commercial restaurant magazines for the latest in restaurant information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Check out the websites of national restaurant associations for the latest in restaurant information

Restaurant associations, whether they be national, state-wide or even regional, provide an excellent resource for the latest news and trends on the foodservice and commercial restaurant industry. On their websites, there is usually a special section dedicated to news, which will provide periodicals and articles about the industry.

I recommend: Check out the website for the National Restaurant Association to find the latest news and trends throughout the industry. This provides a comprehensive list of the latest articles in regard to the industry. The International Hotel & Restaurant Association is another great resource, which not only offers a periodic newsletter, but also continuously provides informational articles on commercial restaurants and foodservice.

Read a restaurant report for more information on the latest news and trends

Find and locate a restaurant industry report about foodservice info and the commercial restaurant industry that cover everything from what the customer is demanding, to the new hot products, to the latest changes in national and state-wide codes. This will allow you to stay up-to-date on the latest evolutions of your niche of the commercial restaurant and food service industry.

I recommend: Check out the website for FoodServiceReport.com, which offers everything from foodservice facts, to weekly industry reports, to reports by state and even national reports about the foodservice and commercial restaurant industry. FoodService Equipment Reports Magazine is another great resource, which offers news, periodicals, reports, new product reviews and even editorials about the foodservice industry with a eye toward the equipment used in the commercial restaurant industry.

Look at commercial magazines as a great guide for restaurant and foodservice information resources

Restaurant magazines are geared toward the owners, managers, suppliers, distributors and other workers in the industry and provide a fantastic insight into the latest news and trends with regard to the foodservice and restaurant industry. Even if a hard copy of the publication is only produced every month, there are often online updates daily and weekly.

I recommend: Check out the publication Quick Service Magazine. It is offered in both online versions and in print. The Quick Service Magazine covers news and trends for the fast food and "fast-casual" dining experience. Another quality resource offering the latest in foodservice and commercial restaurant news and trends is the online magazine Nation's Restaurant News.

Most restaurant industry information will show you that the outlook for new restaurants isn't always good. Many new restaurants fail within the first couple of years. However, with good restaurant and foodservice information resources, you'll be able to beat the odds.

Restaurant owners need research to show how other businesses operate and any consumer trends that could affect their sales. They should stay current with any new foodservice information, lest it negatively affect their business.

You may be interested in restaurant information and research if:

1. You want to find the best type of restaurant to start. Restaurant research can show you the many types of restaurants in your area. You want to start a restaurant that is different from the others.

2. You want to expand your business. If you already run a successful restaurant, you may be thinking of opening another one in a new town. Do some restaurant research in the new town to learn if this is a good idea.

3. You want to get ideas to improve your business. Businesses are constantly evolving and it helps if you can take advantage of new trends in the industry.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a market research firm to provide you with independent restaurant statistics

There are many things that you can learn through your own research, but it helps to have an industry professional compile and interpret the data for you. This is especially effective for those looking to break into the business, because they don't have as much experience.

I recommend: Technomic Consultants can help you with many areas of your restaurant business, including consumer research and performance improvement. RestaurantInsights.com specializes in restaurant research. They can help you with foodservice facts to beat the competition.

Subscribe to restaurant industry magazines to get current restaurant information

A good magazine will help you learn about the industry and stay up-to-date on current industry trends. It's wise to sign up for a couple of magazines to have a wider variety of restaurant and foodservice information resources.

I recommend: Get a free subscription to Restaurants & Institutions, which presents much information about the restaurant industry. It's also a good idea to subscribe to Restaurant Business, another great magazine that discusses industry news and issues.

Attend a trade show to learn about the latest restaurant industry information and trends

Trade shows are one of the best restaurant resources for business owners. You can connect with industry professionals and view the latest products.

I recommend: The National Restaurant Association Restaurant Hotel-Motel Show is one of the largest trade shows in the industry. It occurs every year, so be sure to book your tickets early. The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York is another large industry event. With thousands of participants, you cannot afford to pass it up.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Sometimes it's hard to get through all of the restaurant research available in magazines, especially if you have several subscriptions. Browse through the magazine when you receive it. If you see an article or restaurant report that interests you, tear it out for future reading.

Restaurant and foodservice information can be a vital part of any food service business. It helps you learn current trends, marketing and when purchasing products for your patrons. Conversely, there may be a few key terms you can learn to better help you uphold your restaurant business in the best possible way to your consumers. Knowing about restaurant and foodservice information will help in keeping your restaurant functions running smoothly and also make it easier to learn about customer wants and needs so you make the best purchases. There are certain key terms you may not know. Here are a few to get you started on sounding like a professional.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consumer trends

Consumer trends are the latest consumer statistics. These statistics show what is popular and important in any industry, including the restaurant business. To run a successful restaurant it is important to follow consumer trends to know what you customer is looking for.

I recommend: Knowledge Network has multiple issues and information on consumer trends, how it can help you and what it stands for.

Market research

Market research is a process that gathers data that is useful to any given market such as the restaurant industry. The data is analyzed and allows the restaurant owner to see exactly what is popular to their consumer.

I recommend: NPD Group has useful information on market research for the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Restaurant statistics

Restaurant statistics are a useful tool in knowing what the averages are for man different concepts such as restaurant failures, successes, data on marketing trends and more.

I recommend: Restaurant Pitfalls and Profits has an informational guide you can receive for free listing restaurant statistics.

Consumer research

Consumer research is marketing research that gives data about the wants and needs of different demographics of consumers and can be most useful to someone in the restaurant industry by supplying consumer data and buying habits.

I recommend: Creative Consumer Research provides an informational guide on the importance of consumer research.

Trade show

A trade show is an exposition so that businesses in a specific line of business can show and demonstrate their newest offerings in service, products, inventions and studies. These are usually not for the public but for related industries to view. A restaurant trade show can showcase anything from restaurant furniture to new types of food and drinks.

I recommend: Trade Show Advisor has extensive information on trade shows and how to maximize your business' impact.

Foodservice information

Foodservice is also stated as food service and includes any industry involved with the service of food such as restaurants, food distributors, grocers and caterers.

I recommend: The Bureau of Labor Statistics has information on foodservice jobs and employment to help you prepare for your restaurant ownership.

Whether you own a restaurant or your business caters to restaurant owners, you need to keep up to date on the latest restaurant information. It can help you stay aware of trends in the industry and give you clues as to how you should advertise to best reach your clientele.

There are a lot of sources for foodservice information, but not all of them are reliable. Three that you can be confident about taking direction from when working with restaurant and foodservice information resources are:

1. Restaurant research published by trade organizations in the restaurant industry;

2. Magazines that cater to restaurant and foodservice professionals;

3. Conference materials distributed at big name foodservice tradeshows;

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use the latest restaurant report information published by trade organizations

A restaurant report is an excellent resource to use if you want to see earnings trends and find out what companies in the foodservice industry are doing to attract customers in certain demographics. You can either compare your restaurant to others of the same type or learn how to market your product more effectively by seeing what has been successful for others.

I recommend: Foodservicereport, also known as Research Report for Foodservice, is the perfect place to start your research. It is basically a compilation of hundreds of the latest foodservice industry studies. You can sort the studies by state or by business type. First Research also provides restaurant reports. However, you must pay a fee before you are able to access them.

Look at trade magazines to find foodservice info

Turn to the trade magazines as additional restaurant resources. They often have more specific information than reports will offer. There are literally dozens of magazines out there catering to almost all aspects of the restaurant industry.

I recommend: A good magazine to start with is the Nation's Restaurant News. It is an omnibus publication that covers the entire restaurant industry in the United States. Then, to get more specific to your area of interest, take a look at RestaurantResults' compilation of publications. You will be able to find information on nearly 100 more specialized magazines and journals.

Learn restaurant industry information by attending conferences

Attend foodservice conferences and trade shows to get restaurant reference materials first hand from the companies that publish them. Going to a trade show also gives you a good opportunity to ask questions of experts and to network with others in your line of work.

I recommend: Check out the Restaurant News Resource. There, you will find a list of conferences focusing on restaurant and hotel foodservice held in many areas of the country. If you're more interested in the bar and nightlife side of the industry, consider Questex Media Group's Nightclub&Bar shows.