The Texas Restaurant Association: Championing Independent Restaurant Operators

In the ever-evolving and fiercely competitive restaurant industry, independent operators often face a myriad of challenges, from navigating complex regulations to securing funding and adopting new technologies. Fortunately, in Texas, these operators have a powerful ally in the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA). This blog post delves into the vital role of the TRA in supporting small restaurant operators, exploring how the organization advocates for its members, provides valuable benefits and services, and drives positive change through legislative wins. We'll examine key initiatives such as the push for permanent alcohol to-go, efforts to ensure transparency in third-party delivery partnerships, and programs that help restaurants access much-needed financial support. Join us as we uncover how the TRA is shaping the future of the restaurant industry in Texas. For a more in-depth discussion on this topic, be sure to check out our latest episode, Texas Eats Revolutionizing the Restaurant Scene Nationwide | Season 9, Vol. 13, where we speak with representatives from the TRA about their work.

Texas Restaurant Industry: A Statistical Overview

Before delving into the specifics of the TRA's work, it's crucial to understand the sheer scale and impact of the restaurant industry in Texas. The Lone Star State boasts a thriving culinary scene, characterized by diverse flavors, innovative concepts, and a passionate workforce. Recent statistics paint a compelling picture of the industry's significance:

• Record-Breaking Numbers: Texas is home to over 55,000 restaurant units, showcasing the state's vibrant culinary landscape.
• Massive Employment: The industry employs approximately 1.4 million individuals, making it a major contributor to the Texas economy.
• Significant Sales: In 2022, restaurant sales in Texas reached a staggering $90 billion, highlighting the industry's economic power.
• Post-Pandemic Growth: Remarkably, Texas has experienced a 20% growth in restaurant sales compared to pre-pandemic levels, making it the only U.S. state to surpass those figures.

These statistics underscore the importance of the restaurant industry to the Texas economy and the need for organizations like the TRA to support its continued growth and success. The TRA serves as a vital resource for restaurant owners, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive in a competitive market.

TRA's Dual Mission: Advocacy and Member Benefits

The Texas Restaurant Association operates on a dual mission: advocating for the interests of its members and providing them with valuable benefits and services. This two-pronged approach ensures that restaurant operators have a strong voice in legislative and regulatory matters while also receiving practical support to improve their bottom line.

Advocacy

The TRA's advocacy efforts are spearheaded by a dedicated team that works tirelessly to represent the interests of its members at the local, state, and federal levels. Key areas of focus include:

• Legislative Representation: The TRA actively monitors and engages in legislative debates that impact the restaurant industry, advocating for policies that promote a favorable business environment.
• Regulatory Compliance: The association helps its members navigate the complex web of regulations governing the industry, ensuring they remain compliant with health codes, labor laws, and other requirements.
• Public Awareness: The TRA works to raise public awareness of the restaurant industry's importance to the Texas economy and the challenges it faces.

Member Benefits

In addition to its advocacy work, the TRA offers a wide range of member benefits designed to help restaurant operators succeed. These benefits include:

• Cost Savings Programs: The TRA negotiates discounts on essential products and services, such as insurance, energy, and technology, helping members reduce their operating costs.
• Educational Resources: The association provides access to training programs, webinars, and other educational resources that help restaurant staff improve their skills and knowledge.
• Networking Opportunities: The TRA hosts events and conferences that allow members to connect with their peers, share best practices, and build valuable relationships.
• Legal Assistance: The association offers access to legal resources and advice, helping members navigate legal challenges and minimize their risk.
• Marketing Support: The TRA provides marketing tools and resources to help members promote their businesses and attract new customers.

By combining advocacy with practical member benefits, the TRA provides a comprehensive support system for restaurant operators in Texas.

Legislative Wins: Alcohol To-Go and Delivery Transparency

The TRA has achieved significant legislative victories that have positively impacted the restaurant industry in Texas. Two notable examples are the passage of legislation making alcohol to-go permanent and fostering transparency in third-party delivery partnerships.

Permanent Alcohol To-Go

During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants were temporarily allowed to sell alcohol to-go as a way to offset revenue losses from dine-in restrictions. The TRA recognized the potential benefits of making this policy permanent and successfully advocated for its adoption. The new law allows restaurants to continue selling alcohol to-go, providing them with a valuable revenue stream and greater flexibility in serving their customers.

The benefits of permanent alcohol to-go include:

• Increased Revenue: Allows restaurants to generate additional revenue from alcohol sales, particularly for takeout and delivery orders.
• Enhanced Customer Convenience: Provides customers with the option to enjoy their favorite alcoholic beverages at home.
• Competitive Advantage: Helps restaurants compete with other businesses that sell alcohol, such as liquor stores and grocery stores.

Delivery Transparency

The TRA also played a key role in passing legislation that promotes transparency in third-party delivery partnerships. This law addresses concerns about hidden fees, unfair commission structures, and other issues that can negatively impact restaurants' profitability.

The key provisions of the delivery transparency law include:

• Fee Disclosure: Requires third-party delivery companies to clearly disclose all fees and commissions charged to restaurants.
• Contractual Protections: Provides restaurants with greater contractual protections in their agreements with delivery companies.
• Data Sharing: Encourages delivery companies to share customer data with restaurants, allowing them to better understand their customers' preferences and improve their marketing efforts.

These legislative wins demonstrate the TRA's effectiveness in advocating for policies that benefit the restaurant industry in Texas.

Financial Support: The Adesso Capital Partnership

Access to capital is crucial for restaurants, particularly small independent operators, to start, expand, and navigate challenging times. Recognizing this need, the TRA has partnered with Adesso Capital to provide its members with access to financial assistance and resources. This partnership has been instrumental in helping restaurants recover from the pandemic and invest in their future.

The Adesso Capital partnership has yielded significant results, including:

• Millions Returned to Members: Adesso Capital has returned nearly $50 million in credits to TRA restaurant members.
• Significant Impact Across the U.S.: The partnership has driven a whopping $300 million in credits across the United States, demonstrating its broad reach and impact.

This partnership exemplifies the TRA's commitment to providing its members with the financial support they need to thrive.

Navigating the Pandemic: PPP Loan Advocacy

The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges for the restaurant industry, forcing many businesses to close their doors temporarily or permanently. The TRA played a critical role in helping its members navigate the pandemic, particularly in securing access to Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.

The TRA's advocacy efforts during the pandemic included:

• Securing Bipartisan Support: The association successfully rallied bipartisan support for a "skinny bill" to make PPP loans more efficient for business owners.
• Streamlining the Application Process: The TRA worked to simplify the PPP loan application process, making it easier for restaurants to access the funds they needed.
• Providing Guidance and Resources: The association provided its members with guidance and resources on how to apply for PPP loans and comply with program requirements.

The TRA's efforts were instrumental in helping many Texas restaurants survive the pandemic and retain their employees.

Regulatory Consistency: Streamlining Operations

Operating a restaurant in Texas can be challenging due to the state's decentralized regulatory environment. With 254 counties and over 1200 municipalities, restaurants often face a patchwork of different rules and regulations, making it difficult to ensure compliance and streamline operations. The TRA has been actively working to address this issue by advocating for regulatory consistency.

The TRA's efforts to promote regulatory consistency include:

• Supporting the Regulatory Consistency Bill: This bill aims to create a more uniform regulatory environment for restaurants across the state, reducing confusion and compliance costs.
• Promoting the Restaurant Cleanup Act: This act seeks to streamline and simplify regulations related to health codes, labor laws, and other areas.

By promoting regulatory consistency, the TRA is helping to create a more level playing field for restaurants in Texas.

Technology Adoption in Texas Restaurants

The restaurant industry has historically been slow to adopt new technologies. However, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital solutions, as restaurants were forced to embrace online ordering, contactless payment, and other technologies to survive. The TRA recognizes the importance of technology in the modern restaurant industry and is working to help its members adopt and integrate these tools.

The TRA's efforts to promote technology adoption include:

• Creating a Central Marketplace: The association is developing a central marketplace for tech solutions, making it easier for restaurants to find and compare different options.
• Providing Training and Resources: The TRA offers training programs and resources to help restaurant staff learn how to use new technologies effectively.
• Sharing Best Practices: The association shares best practices and case studies on how restaurants are successfully using technology to improve their operations.

By promoting technology adoption, the TRA is helping Texas restaurants become more efficient, competitive, and resilient.

Conclusion: TRA as a Champion for Independent Operators

The Texas Restaurant Association plays a vital role in supporting small restaurant operators throughout the state. Through its advocacy efforts, member benefits, legislative victories, financial support programs, and initiatives to promote regulatory consistency and technology adoption, the TRA is truly a champion for independent operators. The association's work is essential for ensuring the continued growth and success of the restaurant industry in Texas, which is a major driver of the state's economy and a source of countless jobs. By providing a strong voice for its members and offering practical resources to help them thrive, the TRA is making a significant contribution to the culinary landscape of Texas. To learn more about the important work of the TRA and its impact on the Texas restaurant scene, listen to our recent episode, Texas Eats Revolutionizing the Restaurant Scene Nationwide | Season 9, Vol. 13. We dive deep into the topics discussed here and offer additional insights into the TRA's initiatives and achievements.