2016: A Tough Year for the Restaurant Industry

A Tough Year for the Restaurant Industry:

 

Last year proved to be difficult for the restaurant industry. Nation’s Restaurant News reported yesterday that Buffalo Wild Wing’s fourth quarter net earnings plummeted 38.2%. The company’s fourth quarter ended on December 25th, 2016. Company-owned restaurants saw same-store sales fall 4% while franchised stores saw sales fall 3.9%. Buffalo Wild Wings CEO Sally Smith made a statement about the issue, citing “the challenging restaurant environment” as the source of struggle. Chipotle also took a hard hit in their fourth quarter. As the company dealt with food borne illness outbreaks across the country, net incomes fell 76%.

It is no surprise that restaurants nationwide faced similar hardships. For many restaurants, the overall decline in net profits can be traced back to two main contributing factors: weak same-store sales and slow traffic. According to the National Restaurant Association, 42% of operators reported a same-stores sales decline in December of 2016. Operators also reported a 47% decline in traffic for that same month.

Expectations and optimism remain high, though, for the year ahead. About 39% of restaurant operators told National Restaurant News that they expect same-store sales and traffic to improve within the next 6 months. This is a 25% jump from when operators were surveyed back in October of 2016. Also heartening for the industry is that 57% of restaurant operators surveyed expect to expand or remodel within the next 6 months.

Dedicated to Success in 2017:

Here at Patrice and Associates, we are also optimistic about the year ahead. As the nation’s leading hospitality recruiting firm, we know how fundamentally important staffing is to a restaurant’s success. Finding strong, talented candidates to fill leadership positions can make all the difference when running an effective business. Strong leaders help shape a business’s culture and can be instrumental in improving overall service, efficiency, profitability, and more.

Overall, we are excited to continue working hard in 2017. Every day, our dedicated Franchisees and Recruiters help find and place the restaurant industry’s top leaders. By ensuring the success of our clients, we are also ensuring the growth and prosperity of the restaurant industry itself. We look forward to continue doing so now and for many years to come.

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Duke Witte absolutely was amazing! 

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to Duke Witte for his assistance in finding me a new job in the hospitality industry. I was disgruntled with my previous job, and I was feeling very discouraged about my prospects. I had been working in the restaurant industry for many years, and I had a lot of experience and skills, but I was having a hard time finding a better opportunity.

I was contacted via LinkedIn by Duke, and thank goodness I was.  Mr. Witte was incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the entire process. He took the time to understand my skills and experience, and worked tirelessly to find me a job that was a good fit.

Duke was also very honest and upfront with me about the job market. He didn't sugarcoat things, but also didn't give up on me. He kept me motivated and encouraged, and never gave up on finding me a job that I would love.

I am so grateful to Duke Witte and his team for their help. I am now happily employed, and I am so happy that I was able to find a job that I love. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is looking for a job in the restaurant industry. He is a true professional, and is dedicated to helping his clients find the perfect job!

Thank you again for everything!

Nick Grubbs

Working with Chris Bovio made job searching so much easier! 

Not only was he available and involved in my search, but also knowledgeable regarding the position. Chris used his industry experience and recruiting network to find the best position for me and my skill set. My only regret is that my new job is so perfect for me that I won’t need to use Chris or Patrice & Associates later.

Thanks,

Nick Guarino

Michael Greig was absolutely fantastic in every way! 

He gave me options and suggestions & eventually found a great for me. Communication was easy and he went above & beyond. Also, he seems like an all around good dude. Thanks again Michael. Solid work out there. You’re hired :)

Nic Callahan

Bryan Curtis was fantastic to work with!

Bryan was very on top of things throughout my recruiting process to the engineering firm I accepted my position with.  I responded to his LinkedIn posting and heard back from him within 24 hours. He continually spoke with me throughout the process checking in regularly and answering all my questions. Bryan was instrumental in helping me find a great job.

Thanks!

Austin

Frank Rondeau was a really big help! 

When it came to helping me find my new job, he knocked it out of the park!  He was very honest and thorough throughout the entire process. We had multiple conversations along the way and he always checked in after interviews. Frank was amazing to work with, and I'm super excited to start my new journey thanks to him.       

Many Thanks,

Chyanne

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