National Restaurant Association: Restaurants Carry on Tradition of Serving Families and Local Communities at Thanksgiving 11/17/2003
From: Katharine Kim, 202-331-5939; Tom Foulkes, 202-331-5902; media@dineout.org; both of the National Restaurant Association WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- National Restaurant Association research reveals that for many Americans, restaurants are an integral part of the Thanksgiving tradition. More than one-third of Americans look to our nation's 870,000 restaurants to offer takeout options for entire or part of holiday meals. In addition, restaurants serve as the cornerstone of local communities by sponsoring service programs that give back to the less fortunate during the holidays. "Restaurants serve more than just meals at Thanksgiving. In addition to lending a helping hand in the kitchen by offering quality holiday dishes, many restaurants across the country organize Thanksgiving dinners or other events that benefit the community," said Steven C. Anderson, the Association's president and chief executive officer. "Many restaurants give back to those who need it most, underscoring the restaurant industry as the cornerstone of community involvement." -- Dining at home...with little help -- Restaurants offer consumers nutritious, traditional Thanksgiving dishes without the hours of planning and cooking in the kitchen, not to mention clean up. Thirty-four percent of Americans rely on food prepared away from home for part or all of their Thanksgiving preparations by ordering takeout items, according to Association research. In addition, many restaurants are open on Thanksgiving, providing families opportunities to spend more quality time with family and friends. In fact, one out of 10 Americans celebrate Thanksgiving at a restaurant. Those living in smaller households or households without children are more likely to dine out on Thanksgiving. Males are more likely than females to eat at a restaurant on the holiday. Generally, younger adults are more likely to use food items prepared at a restaurant as part of their Thanksgiving meal at home. -- Giving back at Thanksgiving -- Nine out of 10 dining establishments are actively engaged in some type of charitable activity and Thanksgiving provides restaurants yet another chance to show their commitment to their local neighborhood. Two examples of countless dining establishments across the country that come to the table with the spirit of Thanksgiving are Restaurant: PROV and Mario's Seawall Restaurant. Restaurant: PROV, operated by Stoli Management in Providence, Rhode Island hosts 1,000 low-income individuals from the Providence area to sit down to an abundant, traditional gourmet Thanksgiving dinner. Restaurant: PROV opens its doors to six social-service agencies for six hours for the annual celebration. Another restaurant that underscores its commitment to its community during the season is Mario's Seawall in Galveston, Texas, which organizes a "Turkey Bash" each year. The event, now in its 10th year, closes the restaurant on Thanksgiving Day to feed nearly 2,000 of the city's homeless. The Turkey Bash is a culmination of the restaurant's year-round involvement with the local community. Restaurant: PROV and Mario's Seawall are state winners in the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Neighbor Award, now in its fifth year. The Association created the prestigious annual award, along with the support of its founding partner American Express, to spotlight restaurants that go above and beyond in community service, demonstrating a selfless activism to help those in need. For more information on the award and to see the winners from your state as well as the three national winners, please visit http://www.restaurant.org/community. A chart of the percentage of adults that use food items prepared away from home as part of their Thanksgiving Day meal is available on the Association's Web site, http://www.restaurant.org/pressroom. ------ The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 870,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a work force of 11.7 million employees - making it the cornerstone of the economy, career opportunities and community involvement. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.restaurant.org. |