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Hurricane Katrina & Foodservice
The Conference Board Reports on Hurricanes’ Economic Impact
SBA to Expedite Processing of Business Disaster Loans
16,000+ Restaurants to Participate in Dine for America
Mexican Restaurants Inc. Reports Rita Losses
BK Opens N.O. Units, Job Bank
Papa John’s Reports Aftereffects of Storms
Wendy's Sales Hurt by Hurricanes
Sonic Reopens Restaurants
Hurricane Hotline Available for Denny's Employees
SYSCO Resumes New Orleans Operations
Enodis Continues Relief Efforts
Buying Group ABC Pledges $11,000 for Hurricane Relief
Cracker Barrel Pledges $1 Million of Meals
Pride Relocates, Remains Open for Business
Raising Cane’s Reopens Restaurants
Thermo-Kool Weathers Wrath of Katrina
DI Operating at Full Capacity
The Road to NAFEM to Benefit Second Harvest’s Katrina Relief Efforts
Pride Relocated to Houston
Hcareers Katrina Job Board Has 65,000 Vacancies
Restaurant Industry Job Bank for New Orleans Employees
McDonald’s Gets Back Up-to-Speed, Increases Donation
Tony Roma’s Plans In-Store Promotion
Il Fornaio Pledges Support Through Sales
C3 Donates Coloring Books, Crayons
FEDA Makes Donation
ARAMARK Serves Up Meals in Houston
SFM Moves Conference to Miami
New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund
Wendy’s Unveils Disaster Recovery Plans
Panda Express Update and Relief Efforts
Ecolab Donates Products
Sodexho Providing Meals
Seven Outback Units Remain Closed
LRA Looks to Relocate
Enodis Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts
America’s Second Harvest Kicks into Disaster Mode
Dine for America Day is October 5, 2005
SFM Conference Remains Scheduled for October
Johnny Carino’s o Donate Sept. 11 Sales to Hurricane Relief Effort
Popeyes Pledges Hurricane Relief
Ruby Tuesday Loses Two Restaurants
Lone Star Donating Labor Day Sales
The Conference Board Reports on Hurricanes’ Economic Impact
Soaring energy prices and the enormity of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will have a significant impact on the U.S. economy, reported The Conference Board. But the economic havoc generated by the two deadly hurricanes is unlikely to trigger a recession, the economic advisory board added.
"While the economic damage assessment is still underway, it is already clear that the impact from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita will be the biggest among natural disasters in recent U.S. history," said Ken Goldstein, senior economist of The Conference Board. "But economic growth could slow down enough to make it feel like a recession, even if one does not technically occur."
The economy will feel like it is moving forward as early as the first quarter of 2006 and this momentum will continue into the spring as massive rebuilding gets underway. Long-term trend growth should be back on track in the second half of 2006.
But the fallout from the hurricanes will have a major impact on the economy and the business cycle, including:
- Energy-price shocks that will cut into consumer spending.
- Consumer confidence has fallen, a further danger sign for consumer spending.
- The labor market continues to cool off.
"From an energy standpoint, the storms could not have come at a worse time for U.S. consumers and businesses," said Goldstein. "While Katrina wasn't necessarily a bigger storm than Hurricane Andrew that crippled Southern Florida in 1992, it disrupted energy supplies at a time when the balance between supply and demand was already precarious. Hurricane Rita's impact was less than Katrina's because it largely spared the chemical and proto-chemical facilities in the region."
The loss of natural gas production will be felt more than the loss of crude oil, The Conference Board reported, since it cannot quickly be replaced either with imported oil and gas or drawn from the United States' Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
But economic growth was already losing steam before the hurricanes hit. The Conference Board said that the impact of Katrina and Rita will intensify the economic slowing that was already underway, with the main impact felt in the third and fourth quarters of this year. The key number to watch will be consumer spending.
Beside energy shocks, The Conference Board advised that the hurricanes could:
- Erase as many as half a million jobs.
- Record economic losses of up to half a trillion dollars, which would slow the economy to a growth rate of less than 2% for at least one quarter.
- Test consumers’ willingness to spend in the face of higher energy prices, higher interest rates and slower job growth over the next few months.
On the positive side, The Conference Board projected that energy prices will fall back in the near future and government and private sector spending on reconstruction is already adding jobs in the areas directly affected by the hurricanes.
So far, the federal government has authorized three times more aid for Katrina than for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. But it also generates questions about how this new government initiative will impact the federal deficit.
At this stage, it remains difficult to estimate the economic loss precisely, but it is clear that the storms created much more damage than any other disaster in recent memory. Insured loss estimates range between $20-$60 billion, and total economic loss estimates are now between $100-$200 billion.
SBA to Expedite Processing of Business Disaster Loans
In an effort to provide faster assistance to business owners in the areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced it would use an expedited process for disaster loans under $100,000 for businesses that can meet specified criteria.
The business owners must have satisfactory credit, a gross income greater than $25,000 and a satisfactory SBA loan history. Additional requirements include a controlling ownership by an individual or group of individuals and a verifiable federal tax return with 12 months of operations.
SBA disaster loans to businesses of all sizes and non-profit organizations are available up to $1.5 million to repair damage to real estate, machinery, equipment and inventory. Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) of up to $1.5 million are also available to small businesses unable to pay bills or meet operating expenses.
For more information on SBA's disaster loan program, call the SBA's customer service center at 1- daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m., e-mail questions to or visit the web site at www.sba.gov/disaster.
16,000+ Restaurants to Participate in Dine for America
To help raise money to support American Red Cross hurricane relief efforts, more than 16,000 restaurants from around the country will participate in Dine for America on Oct. 5, 2005, an event sponsored by the National Restaurant Association. The NRA reports that the number of participating restaurants for the fundraising event has doubled the total participation level of the first Dine for America benefit in 2001, which included 8,000 restaurants raising $20 million for the victims of Sept. 11 and their families.
Restaurants are participating at various levels from donating all or a portion of the day's sales/profits; restaurant employees are volunteering to work on Oct. 5, or donating a portion of their tips; and some restaurants are providing canisters for guests to make a donation. Restaurant patrons can also send donations directly to: American Red Cross, c/o Dine for America, , including the tracking number . For more information, visit the Dine for America web site.
Mexican Restaurants Inc. Reports Rita Losses
Mexican Restaurants Inc. reports that 12 of its restaurants in the Beaumont, Texas , and Lake Charles, La., metropolitan areas remain closed as a result of the impact of Hurricane Rita. Each of the chain’s 13 restaurants serving these two markets sustained varying degrees of damage as a result of the storm.
For the third quarter ending Oct. 2, 2005, Mexican Restaurants estimates it lost $1 million in revenues. The company reported that all of the Houston area's 27 restaurants sustained little to no damage, but lost four days of restaurant sales, or approximately $400,000 in revenue.
“All of our people made it through the storm, and with their determination, we anticipate that the damaged restaurants will be restored to operation as quickly and as safely as possible," said Curt Glowacki, CEO.
The company, which operates 80 Mexican restaurants, including 61 company-owned units, expects to reopen five of the shuttered restaurants by the week ending Oct. 16, 2005 . Due to the fact that much of the region remains without power, it is difficult for the company to predict when the balance of its closed stores will be able to open.
BK Opens N.O. Units, Job Bank
Burger King reports that more than 30 of its units are operational in the greater New Orleans area, including one that came back online Oct. 1 in Orleans Parish. According to Burger King, this is one of its hardest hit stores. “As soon as the power is restored in each of the restaurants, our teams work expeditiously to get them ready and open to serve our guests," said Rich Wyckoff, Burger King Corp. division vice president of the region that includes the Gulf Coast . Despite being up and running, these stores still face several obstacles. “One of the biggest challenges we face is adequate staffing. We continue to be eager to hire employees at all levels in our restaurants," said Jerry Comstock, CEO of Strategic Restaurants, owner and operator of the restaurants. Burger King Corp. also announced the creation of a program to source, recruit and hire displaced employees into new or existing jobs at its restaurants in more than 13 cities nationwide. Approximately 200 Burger King restaurant-level positions are available in the southern Louisiana area. Those interested in securing employment should visit the nearest Burger King restaurant in their area, call 3 or visit http://www.bk.com.
Papa John’s Reports Aftereffects of Storms
Papa John's International reported that approximately 150 franchise restaurants in the Gulf Coast region were closed for one or more days during the third quarter as a result of the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and have either already reopened or are expected to reopen in October. An additional seven franchise restaurants were closed as a result of the impact of Hurricane Katrina and are not expected to reopen for an extended period of time.
Wendy's Sales Hurt by Hurricanes
Wendy's third-quarter sales were affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which resulted in the loss of 2,676 full store days, including 1,460 company and 1,216 franchise, through the end of the third quarter, as well as a number of partial store days. As of Oct. 2, 26 company and 21 franchised Wendy's in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas had not reopened.
Sonic Reopens Restaurants
Due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Rita, approximately 50 to 60 Sonic drive-in restaurants in Louisiana and Texas, including an estimated 10 operated by partners, remain closed, according to a company release. Interruptions to communications and power systems, blocked roads and restricted access in some areas have hampered the company's efforts to assess the full impact of the storm.
Sonic also reported that 14 franchised drive-ins in Louisiana and Mississippi remain closed as a result of Hurricane Katrina and are likely to remain closed for an extended period. The remaining drive-ins affected by Hurricane Katrina have reopened and are fully operational.
Hurricane Hotline Available for Denny's Employees
Denny's established a hurricane hotline for employees at all its restaurants affected by Katrina and Rita. Denny's employees can call toll-free at 1- for assistance and information on restaurant reopenings.
SYSCO Resumes New Orleans Operations
SYSCO Corp. announced that Sysco Food Services of New Orleans, LLC, its broadline distribution subsidiary located in Harahan, La., reopened last week and is distributing products to the local foodservice market, with primary focus being the emergency relief shipments to aid workers, medical treatment facilities and evacuee shelters. The facility had been closed since Aug. 30 due to Hurricane Katrina.
"Our New Orleans facility escaped any significant structural damage and its backup generator allowed the inventory to remain intact,” said Kenneth Spitler, executive vice president of SYSCO and president of SYSCO's North American foodservice operations. “The operation established temporary headquarters in Baton Rouge and assisted in supplying products to the hurricane relief effort in the days following Katrina's destruction."
The company has been in contact with 430 of the 435 associates employed by its New Orleans operation, said Spitler, who added that 300 have found jobs at other SYSCO companies. “SYSCO's first priority is the safety and well being of our associates," he said.
SYSCO's Jackson, Miss., operation was also temporarily shut down due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The company returned to normal distribution levels immediately after the storm passed through the region and experienced an increase in product demand due to SYSCO's assistance in providing meals to the evacuees and relief workers.
"We are also supporting the Red Cross relief efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast through our partnership with them by supplying products from our companies all over the country," continued Spitler. "In addition to significant and in-kind financial donations, we recently refurbished three trailers as self-contained mobile kitchens to be used by the Red Cross. The first of these trailers is currently stationed in Lake Charles, La., and is serving approximately 9,000 hot meals each day to displaced citizens."
Enodis Continues Relief Efforts
Enodis announced that the company, its employees from around the world, and aligned sales representatives in the United States have contributed more than $165,000 to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in the first three weeks since the devastating storm crippled the central Gulf Coast in early September.
In addition, Enodis companies provided a variety of food equipment to support the relief efforts. Enodis also implemented a variety of direct support initiatives designed to help its business partners and customers in the devastated areas to accelerate their recovery and rebuilding. At Frymaster facilities in Louisiana and Kysor// Warren facilities in Texas, Enodis companies consolidated equipment to be shipped directly to the Gulf Coast areas for use in emergency relief. The Frymaster and Kysor//Warren facilities were also made available as consolidation and shipping facilities for Enodis dealers and service agents, which are engaged in relief and rebuilding efforts.
Buying Group ABC Pledges $11,000 for Hurricane Relief
The member owners of Allied Buying Corp. have pledged $11,000.00 in donations to the American Red Cross with the funds earmarked to assist victims of Katrina and Rita. At the same time, the members challenged their Approved Supplier community to match the group’s contribution.
Supplier donations can be sent to Allied with the checks payable to the American Red Cross. The organization will, in turn, batch all receipts and forward them to the Red Cross. For more information, please contact Kathy English by calling 1 or via e-mail at .
Cracker Barrel Pledges $1 Million of Meals
Cracker Barrel restaurants will provide up to $1 million worth of meals to hurricane evacuees and volunteers providing assistance in American Red Cross shelters across the country, the company announced. The Cracker Barrel donation will be given directly to evacuees and volunteers in the form of courtesy meal cards that will be distributed via local Red Cross chapters throughout their operating regions.
This donation marks another step Cracker Barrel has taken to assist relief and recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast . Earlier this month, Cracker Barrel employees voluntarily purchased enough emergency relief supplies to fill more than 2,000 shipping containers. Approximately 1,100 containers have already been shipped to Cracker Barrel units in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas .
Cracker Barrel's corporate efforts have also focused on providing support for affected employees. The company continued to provide paychecks to employees at stores that were closed for an extended period of time. Cracker Barrel representatives personally delivered cash to employees in Louisiana and Mississippi because banks were still closed.
Pride Relocates, Remains Open for Business
With its mid-city headquarters having taken on up to six feet of floodwater, New Orleans-based Pride Marketing and Procurement has relocated and resumed operations in Houston. The equipment and supplies buying group plans to be there for the next three-to-five months, according to Karen Sugarman, a Pride manager.
“We were able to call in some favors to get our infrastructure established here and we are processing our normal orders,” Sugarman said. “It is one of those things where you try to take it one day at a time. And each day is getting better than the last.”
Pride staffers have been told the floodwaters at its New Orleans headquarters have receded, so they are trying to coordinate a trip to assess the damage, Sugarman added. But for many Pride staffers, that’s just the beginning as they have not been able to return to their homes. “It’s hardest for the people who don’t know the extent of the damage,” she said. “But getting everyone back together and back to work has been therapeutic. The fear of the unknown was really eating away at them so it was not a productive time.”
In the meantime, it is business as usual, or as usual as it can be for now, for Pride in its Houston home. Sugarman said the organization continues to make plans for its Oct. 20 – 23 conference in Atlanta and hopes to make a decision about how long the organization will remain in Houston some time in October. “Either way, our building is going to need a lot of work,” she said.
Pride’s address in Houston is:
Pride Marketing and Procurement
3800 Buffalo Speedway
Suite 325
Houston, TX 77098
In addition, a relief fund to help the organization recover from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina has been established, FEDA First Thing reported. Donations to the Pride Katrina Relief Fund can be sent to Dewey Corley, P.O. Box 21830, Shreveport , LA 71120 . The fund has been established by Pride members Steve Bernstein of Restaurant Equipment Co. and Ian McIntyre of Jerico Foodservice Equipment, and supplier Rob Cantor of Insinger Machine Co.
Raising Cane’s Reopens Restaurants
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, the Baton Rouge, La.-based chain, announced it has re-opened 18 of 21 company stores in Louisiana and Mississippi that were closed as a result of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. The chain expects the remaining three stores, which were in New Orleans, to reopen soon.
"Our first and continuing priority is the safety of our crew," said Todd Graves, Raising Cane's founder and CEO. "We closed stores in affected areas in ample time for our crew to evacuate safely. As soon as the storm was over, we began to focus on re-opening.”
Thermo-Kool Weathers Wrath of Katrina
After having the eye of Hurricane Katrina pass over its Laurel, Miss.-headquarters, Thermo-Kool has returned to operating at full capacity.
As a result of the damage inflicted upon the region by Katrina, the walk-in refrigeration manufacturer was closed for one week, which put it approximately seven days behind schedule, according to Rand McLaughlin, Thermo-Kool’s president. McLaughlin estimated that the company should be back on schedule by early October if not sooner. “People wanted to get back and get rolling,” McLaughlin said.
During the week Thermo-Kool was shut down, the company provided relief checks for its 150 employees to help offset the costs associated with cleanup and other expenses. “We felt we had to do something,” McLaughlin said. “Your employees are just as important as your customers.”
According to McLaughlin, Thermo-Kool’s plant sustained relatively minor damage when you compare it to what others in the area endured. “Once you get a look at the full scope of the damage, it starts to put things into perspective,” he said. “We were lucky we did not sustain more.”
One reason Thermo-Kool and the region were able to bounce back was due to the unfortunate reality that hurricanes are a way of life in Mississippi. “You get conditioned to it,” McLaughlin admitted. “People know how to respond.”
DI Operating at Full Capacity
Hurricane Katrina knocked Jackson-Miss.-based DI Foodservice out of business for a day and a half, according to the company. But within days the manufacturer was operating at 80% capacity and returned to 100% capacity in less than a week.
This allowed the company to shift its focus quickly on supporting a variety of relief efforts and the employees affected by the storm.
After the storm cleared, one of the biggest obstacles the company faced was the regional gas shortage. “This did present a concern for people getting to work,” said Pam Holmes, DI’s director of marketing services.
The Road to NAFEM to Benefit Second Harvest’s Katrina Relief Efforts
On September 19 a group of 30 foodservice professionals are expected to arrive in Anaheim, Calif. , the site of The NAFEM Show, via motorcycle. These individuals participated in "The Road to Anaheim," a fundraising effort that benefits America 's Second Harvest, a national food bank network. The riders are expecting to raise approximately $75,000, which will go directly to providing food and grocery products to those affected by the hurricane and assist with long-term recovery efforts, as well.
Pride Relocated to Houston
After taking on more than 10 feet of flood water, New Orleans-based equipment and supplies buying group Pride has relocated to Houston . “They’ve secured office space in Houston, signed a lease on a space and will be fully operational next week,” said Brad Pierce of Restaurant Equipment World, a Pride member company.
The entire Pride team is safe, Pierce added, and 24 of 38 staff members are in Houston . “The vast majority of staff have lost everything they own,” Pierce said. “They have worked like crazy to keep Pride and Pride dealers and everything flowing correctly.”
With the relocation efforts complete, the organization will shift its attention to areas including marketing, conferences and IT. “There is a definite plan to getting all those working perfectly,” Pierce said.
Pride continues to post updates for its members to its web site: www.pridemarketing.com.
Hcareers Katrina Job Board Has 65,000 Vacancies
Working with associations and other partners, Hcareers, a job board serving the restaurant, hospitality and retail industries, is donating their service to help rebuild the industry's workforce. Employers who have job vacancies and want to help displaced workers affected by Hurricane Katrina can post those jobs for free to by offering special considerations like housing and relocation assistance.
Hcareers has built the Katrina Job Board specifically for displaced workers in the restaurant, hospitality and retail industries, through which job seekers have free access to view more than 65,000 industry jobs across the entire Hcareers network.
Hcareers has launched this initiative with support from their strategic partners: National Restaurant Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, American Resort Development Association, RestaurantU.com, QSR Web, People Report, Fast Casual, Pizza Marketplace, Hotel Resource, Foodservice.com, and National Restaurant Association Education Foundation. The Katrina Job Board will be accessible via all partner web sites.
Restaurant Industry Job Bank for New Orleans Employees
The Council of Independent Restaurants of America, working with several other industry groups, launched www.cirajobs.com, a web site aimed at helping the estimated 55,000 New Orleans restaurant workers who are out of work as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Those employees affected by Katrina can go to the job bank web site, post their resume and look for openings while prospective restaurants can post the jobs they have available. Don Luria, president of the Council of Independent Restaurants of America , said the group is working closely with the American Red Cross, the airlines and several major hotel chains to provide transportation and temporary housing for the New Orleans refugees.
“New Orleans is known worldwide for its culinary heritage and I'm certain that any restaurant in the United States would welcome its influence and style," said Luria. "Any restaurateur, whether part of an affiliation or not, who would like to join our effort to help these people is urged to contact me at ."
McDonald’s Gets Back Up-to-Speed, Increases Donation
Fewer than 100 McDonald’s restaurants remain closed due to Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, according to the Oak Brook, Ill.-based burger giant. Of those 100, many will require significant work or need to be rebuilt before they can reopen. At the peak of the hurricane, the company estimates 200 of its stores were closed.
“Many of our restaurants have already reopened and are serving customers," said Don Thompson, executive vice president and chief operations officer for McDonald's USA . "We are committed to providing jobs and reinvesting in these communities. We will reopen all of our Gulf Coast restaurants damaged by Katrina."
The company also continues to provide assistance to communities devastated by the hurricane. Food and water have been distributed to victims, evacuees and relief workers throughout the Gulf Coast, as well as in other parts of the country. McDonald's also established a 24-hour crisis center to assist displaced employees with food, water, shelter, payroll, benefits and transportation needs.
McDonald's also increased its commitment to $5 million for ongoing hurricane Katrina disaster relief efforts. To stimulate in-restaurant contributions, McDonald’s has developed national and local advertising campaigns. “We're leveraging the significant resources of our brand to help people in need," said Ralph Alvarez, president of McDonald's North America . "Many of our restaurant managers, crew employees and field staff, as well as many of our owner/operators and suppliers, have been affected by Katrina. We're doing our part to ensure that our employees and the Gulf Coast community see hope beyond this tragedy.
Tony Roma’s Plans In-Store Promotion
Romacorp Inc., the parent company of Tony Roma's restaurants, announced that all U.S. company and franchise restaurants will hold a fundraising drive to collect monetary donations for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Tony Roma's will sell "Red Crosses" for $1 and donate all proceeds to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Romacorp will also make a matching gift based on the total dollars contributed.
The company will donate 100% of the proceeds generated from Sept. 19 – 23 and make a matching contribution to the American Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund. Patrons will have the opportunity to personalize each cross and place it on a dedicated wall of the restaurant.
Il Fornaio Pledges Support Through Sales
Il Fornaio Corp., the Italian restaurant and bakery chain, announced plans to donate 20% of its Sept. 27 food sales to Share Our Strength's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund. One hundred percent of the funds raised will be sent to local organizations providing relief for hurricane victims and displaced restaurant workers in the affected areas.
Il Fornaio has set a goal of $25,000 that it hopes to surpass with the active support of its employees, guests and colleagues to aid in the relief efforts of the Gulf Coast hurricane.
C3 Donates Coloring Books, Crayons
Foodservice marketer C3, which specializes in family restaurants, is donating toys, coloring books, crayons and other items it would normally provide for in-store promotions, to the shelters housing evacuees from Hurricane Katrina.
FEDA Makes Donation
Last week the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association made a $10,000 contribution to the American Red Cross to assist in the hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast region, according to FEDA FirstThing, the organization’s weekly newsletter. FEDA is encouraging its members and industry friends to take part by making a donation to organizations such as the American Red Cross or Salvation Army that are actively involved in providing disaster relief in Alabama, Louisiana and/or Mississippi.
ARAMARK Serves Up Meals in Houston
Members of ARAMARK’s Texas operation have served more than 635,000 meals to an estimated 26,000 evacuees since they began arriving in Houston from the Gulf Coast areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Most of ARAMARK’s efforts have taken place at Reliant Park, which includes the Reliant Astrodome, Reliant Arena and Reliant Center, and George R. Brown Convention Center. The company has also helped support the additional law enforcement officials, American Red Cross and medical personnel, and volunteers on the ground in Houston. ARAMARK also is providing all facility services, including cleaning and garbage collection, at these locations.
ARAMARK employees from Reliant Park, George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston Independent School District and Minute Maid Park are working around the clock with the help of more than 1,325 volunteers to prepare, deliver and serve meals and snacks, transport and unload food shipments, stock the warehouse, wash cooking equipment, empty trash cans, mop floors, and clean bathrooms and showers.
SFM Moves Conference to Miami
In a letter sent via email to SFM members and other members of the industry, Society for Foodservice Management President Jim Wulforst announced the organization will host its 2005 National Conference from October 19 – 22 in at the Sheraton Bar Harbour Resort in Miami. The event was originally scheduled to take place over those same dates in New Orleans. “While we were very mindful of the tragic situation still unfolding in New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast, a commitment was made to hold this premiere industry event and maintain SFM's forward momentum of recent years,” Wulforst said in his letter. “We are now moving ahead rapidly to make this an exciting and educational event for our members and attendees. Our first order of business will be to revise and distribute conference registration information to all interested parties as quickly as possible.” For up-to-date information on SFM’s National Conference, visit . In addition, SFM will waive all "late fees," which means the organization will not require registration by a certain date in order to secure a discounted rate. SFM’s Board of Directors and National Conference Planning Committee are currently developing ways in which the organization’s annual event can have a positive impact on relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina, Wulforst added.
New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund
The Greater Houston Community Foundation established a fund to support those members of the hospitality industry affected by Hurricane Katrina. Anyone interested can make a donation by visiting www.ghcf.org or by sending contributions to:
New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund
4550 Post Oak Place, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77027
To send stock, corporate bonds and other marketable securities, wire with fund name noted to:
Smith Barney - DTC# 0418
For credit to Greater Houston Community Foundation
Account# 624-03741-13-705
Wendy’s Unveils Disaster Recovery Plans
Wendy’s reported 47 company-owned and 15 franchised restaurants remain closed as a result of Hurricane Katrina, according to a press release issued by the chain. The company organized a disaster recovery team to reach more than 2,500 Wendy's employees who are out of work as a result of the storm. A toll-free employee hotline number has been established, and Wendy’s urges these employees to call 1- or 1-. Affected restaurants will re-open as power lines are re-established and new product is delivered. "We're working to locate our employees and assist them in this time of urgent need," said Tom Mueller, president and chief operating officer, Wendy's North America. Wendy's said all company employees who have been impacted by Katrina will continue to receive their paychecks. Wendy's will attempt to find alternative employment for those who have relocated. Each employee also will be given an added stipend to help meet immediate, pressing needs. The cost of these efforts is estimated at $2 million. In addition, Wendy's announced plans to establish a disaster relief fund for franchise employees.
Panda Express Update and Relief Efforts
The Panda Express location at the Riverwalk Marketplace in New Orleans has been damaged and closed, but all associates in the affected areas are reported to be safe, according to a company release. Team members in Houston have taken in company representatives from Louisiana and are also providing housing for their families. Through Panda Restaurant Group's Leave Share Program, associates are donating their vacation hours to others who need them.
In addition, Panda Express announced that its restaurants in the Texas markets of Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio are providing food to local shelters. This program has been expanded to include another element: Every Thanksgiving, Panda Restaurant Group gives each of its more than 11,000 associates a free 10- to 12-pound turkey. This year, the associates are donating these turkeys to feed the evacuees and rescue workers at American Red Cross evacuation centers throughout Texas.
“We feel fortunate that our associates in the affected areas are reported to be safe, and we are determined to do what we can to support everyone who has been impacted," said Peggy Cherng, CEO and co-chair of Panda Restaurant Group, parent company of Panda Express, Panda Inn and Hibachi-San. Panda Restaurant Group also has collectively pledged $500,000 to support Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. It is coordinating this pledge through four outreach programs: two restaurant fundraisers, associate contributions that will be matched by the company, and donations of meals to evacuees.
Ecolab Donates Products
St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab announced that it is donating waterless antibacterial hand sanitizer, surface sanitizer and other cleaning products to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The products will be used to prevent the spread of disease among survivors and those participating in the cleanup efforts.
Sodexho Providing Meals
Sodexho USA and the Sodexho Foundation have pledged to provide 500,000 meals to feed survivors of Hurricane Katrina. All meals will be prepared at a Sodexho cook-chill facility and employee volunteers will work with America’s Second Harvest to deliver and serve the meals at 10 sites.
Seven Outback Units Remain Closed
Outback Steakhouse reported that seven of its units in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were closed due to mandatory evacuations, property damage or lack of power and water as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Through the close of business yesterday, the company sustained a loss of 90 restaurant operating days and approximately $800,000 in revenues at 23 of its company-owned restaurants and a loss of 31 operating days and approximately $11,000 in royalties from lost revenues at five of its franchise locations. At this time, the company plans to reopen five of these restaurants (four company-owned Outback Steakhouses in Louisiana and one franchised Outback Steakhouse in Mississippi) as soon as possible. Two restaurants (one franchised Outback Steakhouse in Gulfport, Miss., and one company-owned Bonefish Grill in Biloxi, Miss.) will remain closed indefinitely due to extensive storm damage.
LRA Looks to Relocate
The Louisiana Restaurant Association and the LRA Self Insurer's Fund’s Metarie, La.-based offices are temporarily closed due to Hurricane Katrina, according to a message posted on the LRA web site. The organizations are looking to establish operations in Baton Rouge and ask that members contact them on an emergency basis via email at .
Enodis Supports Hurricane Relief Efforts
Enodis is working with a variety of relief agencies to provide refrigeration, cooking and ice-making equipment for field and mobile kitchens being established in and deployed to the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, the company announced
Enodis has also established several programs for foodservice equipment dealers and service agencies located in or serving the stricken areas, helping those businesses recover more quickly in order to provide needed foodservice equipment for relief, repair and rebuilding.
“As our business partners will play a key role in helping to feed those engaged in relief, repair and rebuilding, Enodis will equip them to assist with emergency food efforts by providing expedited equipment availability, temporary warehousing and staging, and other support essential to rebuilding foodservice infrastructure,” Dave McCulloch, CEO for Enodis plc.
In addition, Enodis made a donation of $20,000 to the American Red Cross for hurricane-relief efforts by allocating funds from the Enodis Foundation, which was established to support local charities in the communities where the company does business. Enodis also announced plans to match employee contributions to any qualifying charitable organization on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
America’s Second Harvest Kicks into Disaster Mode
America’s Second Harvest, a national network of food banks, has activated its disaster mode in response to Hurricane Katrina and is requesting funds to help move food into and secure warehouse space in the affected areas. Companies looking to make donations can do so by calling 1- or visiting www.secondharvest.org.
The organization’s web site also reports that several member food banks affected by the hurricane are operating without power, which means refrigerated and frozen space are greatly needed and represents another way companies can assist.
As of noon on Monday, Second Harvest had sent an estimated 200-plus truckloads of food to the affected regions, which it said translates into an estimated 5 million meals.
Dine for America Day is October 5, 2005
The National Restaurant Association declared October 5 as “Dine for America Day,” a national fundraising effort that will band together restaurants from across the country to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and help those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Participating restaurant operators are encouraged to donate all or part of their sales or proceeds for that day, make a donation for each sale of a specific item, or provide donation canisters for guests to contribute. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go to the hurricane victims and their families via the Red Cross, according to the NRA.
“Our hearts go out to our restaurant friends and family in the Gulf Coast – to everyone affected by the hurricane – and we are pleased to be able to galvanize the nation's restaurateurs and foodservice industry in this important effort,” said Stephen C. Anderson, NRA President and Chief Executive Officer, in an email from the organization.
To be part of this important national effort, click here for further information or visit www.restaurant.org.
SFM Conference Remains Scheduled for October
In an email announcement from the organization’s president, the Society for Foodservice Management announced its intent to move forward with its national conference, which was scheduled for October 19-22 in New Orleans.
SFM is searching for an alternative location and asks attendees to hold the original conference dates. The Society intends to address all registration issues sometime this week.
“Be assured that the Conference Planning Committee will address the efforts of the relief organizations in New Orleans and the surrounding areas and will be offering assistance,” said SFM President Jim Wulforst in his email. “The SFM Executive Committee urges the membership to support the relief efforts in any way possible.”
Johnny Carino’s to Donate Sept. 11 Sales to Hurricane Relief Effort
Fired Up, Inc., parent company of Johnny Carino's Italian, plans to donate 15% of sales at all company-owned restaurants on Sunday, September 11, 2005 to the American Red Cross Emergency Relief Fund.
Popeyes Pledges Hurricane Relief
AFC Enterprises’ Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits announced the company and its franchisees have donated $500,000 to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief. In addition, the chain said it will donate an additional $500,000 for supporting Popeyes employees and others directly affected by the disaster. Popeyes also said that it plans to raise $1 million through an in-restaurant customer-donation program.
Ruby Tuesday Loses Two Restaurants
Ruby Tuesday announced that its restaurants in Biloxi and Gulf Port, Miss., were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In addition, its stores in Moss Point and D’Iberville were damaged and remained closed, but are expected to re-open in the coming weeks. The company said it has sent food, water, power generators, fuel and other items it the affected areas. Ruby Tuesday also said it is providing financial assistance to employees who are victims of the Hurricane, and the company said it intends to raise $400,000 through its Disaster Response Fund to assist these individuals.
Lone Star Donating Labor Day Sales
Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. plans to donate 100% of its Labor Day sales to the American Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief. The company, which operates approximately 300 restaurants under five concepts, anticipates the total donation to exceed $1 million.
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