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🍴 Small restaurants saw a 0.4% sales growth in June 2025 compared to June 2024, but faced a -2.6% drop in transactions and -2.5% decline in foot traffic. The broader small business index revealed a 1.4% sales drop from May to June, with foot traffic down 2%. Among 2 million small businesses, only 13 states reported positive foodservice performance in June versus 34 in May. Alaska led growth at 5%, while the U.S. unemployment rate dipped to 4.1%.

💸 Hotels worldwide benefit from Mews’ integrated systems. Automated room charging eliminates F&B revenue leaks, enabling seamless guest experiences. QR code ordering and mobile payments enhance efficiency, while unified dashboards provide financial visibility. Staff productivity rises with mobile ordering, leading to better service. Digital tipping increases revenue by 5.7%, earning €3 more per bill on average. Real-time data synchronization and zero-friction payments streamline operations. An analysis of 60 hotels in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland supports these findings.

🍽 Anne Burrell, 55, died on June 17, 2025, at her Brooklyn home. Born on September 21, 1969, in Cazenovia, NY, she was a Food Network star, known for "Worst Cooks in America." Burrell graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1996 and authored two cookbooks. She supported several philanthropic causes, including the Garden of Dreams Foundation. Survived by her husband Stuart Claxton, his son, and her children, Burrell's culinary legacy and philanthropic commitments remain influential.

🍽 Phila Lorn, chef and co-owner of Mawn in Philadelphia, won the 2023 Emerging Chef award at a James Beard Foundation gala in Chicago. Bûcheron in Minneapolis was named Best New Restaurant. The foundation, since 1991, adapted its awards to include social responsibility, boosting smaller markets. New beverage awards recognized Identidad Cocktail Bar (San Juan), Arjav Ezekiel (Austin), and Ignacio Jimenez (NYC). Key winners included Jungsik Yim (NYC) and Frasca Food and Wine (Boulder).

💰 May saw a 0.1% rise in the consumer price index, with annual inflation at 2.4%, less than expected. Food prices increased by 0.3% monthly and 2.9% annually, while restaurant prices rose 3.8% year-over-year. Menu prices have been higher than grocery prices for 26 consecutive months, with a 160 basis point gap, down from 190. Egg prices dropped 2.7% but remain 41.5% higher than in May 2024. Inflation's impact on restaurant sales persists, despite easing compared to previous years.

Hotels and lodging operators can now automate smart devices, streamline operations, and give guests direct control – all from a single, powerful workflow engine. NEW YORK, 28 MAY 2025 – Guest…

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor for Nation’s Restaurant News, has been with the publication since 1999. Previously, he was a columnist for The New York Sun (2005-2008) and sub-editor at Asia Times (1995-1997). Thorn holds a history degree from Tufts University (1990) and studied French cuisine at Le Cordon Bleu (1986). He has also written for publications like Manager magazine and ABC News during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.

🍴 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation’s Restaurant News since 1999, covers U.S. food trends and guides F&B coverage. Formerly, he was a New York Sun columnist (2005-2008) and Asia Times sub-editor (1995-1997). A Tufts University history graduate with studies in China and France, he won the 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award and led IFEC in 2005. Thorn lives in Brooklyn, NY and has contributed to Oxford food encyclopedias.

🍴 Approximately 14,000 new U.S. food and drink establishments opened in Q3 2024 compared to late 2023. However, 60% of restaurants fail within one year, and 80% within five years. The National Restaurant Association highlights a demand for international cuisine, particularly Asian flavors. A survey of 85 chefs for 2025 trends supports this. Operators should adapt, incorporating international flavors to meet customer expectations and remain competitive in the evolving market.

🍽 Bret Thorn, senior food & beverage editor at Nation's Restaurant News from 1999 to present, reports on U.S. F&B trends. He studied at Tufts University and Le Cordon Bleu, with past roles at The New York Sun and Oxford Encyclopedia. His podcast interviews culinary experts. Thorn, a Denver native, was inducted into the Disciples d'Escoffier in 2014. Notable awards include a 2006 Jesse H. Neal Award. Thorn resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.