Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/624379
24 FEDA News & Views The nation's one million restaurant and foodservice locations posted record sales in 2015 and that sales growth will continue into this year, albeit at a mod- erate rate, according to the National Restaurant Association (NRA). Looking at the segment level, quick- service restaurant sales will continue to grow at a slightly quicker pace than tableservice restaurant sales, while snack and nonalcoholic beverage bar sales will By Hudson Riehle Senior Vice President, Research & Knowledge Group National Restaurant Association Restaurant industry outlook remains positive despite bumps in the road keep growing at a quicker pace. Growth in these flexible daypart, off-premise- focused segments is largely driven by the increasing desire for convenience among consumers. Tableservice, howev- er, remains the largest segment by total sales volume. Population and overall employment growth are key indicators for restaurant sales growth. Regional variability in these indicators drives industry sales growth Digital Dining Technology continues to evolve rapidly as a trend in 2016. According to the NRA research, roughly one-quarter of consumers say technology options factor into their restaurant choices. Just a year earlier, it was one in five. Why? Younger consumers have come to expect certain connectivity attached to their dining experiences, from the ability to order restaurant delivery with a smartphone app to reviewing menus and making reservations online. While restaura- teurs understand their guests' desire for technology options and more are adopting various forms, the cost and integra- tion into existing store systems can still pose challenges. The end result: A gap remains between what consumers want and what restaurants currently offer. The good news is that gap is narrowing and it will close further over the next several years as restaurant technology evolves and more options enter the marketplace. at a faster clip in some states while put- ting a damper in others. We'll continue to see a pattern of positive influencers in several states, including Arizona, North Dakota, Texas, Florida and Colorado. As sales continue to grow, industry employ- ment will perform even better. In fact, restaurant employment growth has out- paced overall employment growth for 16 years and is projected to do so again in 2016. LED LIGHTS - THE BRILLIANT CHOICE FOR FOODSERVICE LED lights are the energy-efficient, money-saving choice to replace incandescent and fluorescent lights. Component Hardware offers a wide variety of LEDs – all UL and NSF listed, with low wattage, high lumen output and 50,000 hour life. high lumen output and 50,000 hour life. © Copyright 2015, Component Hardware Group, Inc. • 7W Edison-base LED bulb for reach-in refrigerators • 20W Edison-base LED bulb for canopy hoods • 24" and 48" surface mount LED fixtures for walk-in coolers and freezers • 24" and 48" recess mount LED fixtures for canopy hoods • T4 linkable light bars for display applications It's here! 20W Edison-base Passive Infrared MOTION SENSOR bulb for walk-in coolers and freezers. Call or email us for a complete LED Lighting catalog and price list. 800-526-3694 • 732-363-4700 • sales@componenthardware.com.