National Restaurant Association

Name

National Restaurant Association

Legal name

National Restaurant Association

Website

https://restaurant.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The National Restaurant Association is a 501(c)(6) trade association, founded in 1919 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., serving more than one million U.S. restaurant and foodservice operators, suppliers, and educators through 52 state associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association and Industry Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Restaurant & Foodservice Operations Management (EDAOAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers (THAHABAI)

Keywords

• Foodservice trade association
• Industry advocacy
• Food safety certification
• Restaurant research
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from restaurant operators, suppliers, and industry professionals across 52 state restaurant associations. Provides member benefits including advocacy representation, research access, and industry resources.
2. Event Revenue: Major industry events including the annual National Restaurant Association Show, conferences, and competitions generate revenue through exhibitor fees, attendee registration, and sponsorship.
3. Training and Certification: ServSafe food safety training and certification programs offered through the association's website and approved instructors, generating fees from course materials and certification exams.
4. Products and Publications: Sale of research reports, industry publications, toolkits, and educational materials through the online store, including the State of the Restaurant Industry reports, operations guides, and training materials.
5. Apprenticeship Programs: Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs providing accredited training for line cooks, kitchen managers, and restaurant managers in partnership with employers, with funding support from grant funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National Restaurant Association is the largest U.S. foodservice trade association, delivering member services including federal and state policy advocacy, ServSafe food safety training and certification, industry research and publications, workforce development programs (ProStart, apprenticeships, scholarships), and industry events anchored by the annual National Restaurant Association Show. It operates a network of 52 state restaurant associations to serve more than one million restaurant locations and represents the industry on regulatory, labor, and economic issues.

Product overview

The National Restaurant Association operates as a trade association offering a portfolio of research publications, training certifications, workforce development programs, and advocacy services for the restaurant and foodservice industry. Core offerings include: ServSafe food safety training and certification; the annual National Restaurant Association Show (flagship trade show); annual State of the Industry reports and What's Hot Culinary Forecast research publications; Restaurant TrendMapper subscription service; Kids LiveWell nutrition program; ProStart high school education program; Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center apprenticeship programs; Restaurant Law Center legal advocacy; and FABI/Kitchen Innovations award programs. The association also publishes specialized reports including Restaurant Industry 2030, Restaurant Technology Landscape Report, and off-premises dining trends. These products serve restaurant operators, suppliers, and industry professionals through membership, subscriptions, and individual purchases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ServSafe: Food safety training and certification program for restaurant industry professionals
• ProStart
• Kids LiveWell
• Restaurant Ready

Products and services

• ServSafe Food Safety Training and Certification Comprehensive food safety training and certification program offering courses for food handlers, managers, and instructors. ServSafe is the leading food safety certification in the restaurant industry.
• National Restaurant Association Show Annual flagship trade show at McCormick Place in Chicago, featuring 2,200+ exhibitors across 700,000 square feet and attracting 53,000+ attendees, including restaurant technologies, food and beverage innovations, and industry trends.
• 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry Report Annual restaurant industry research report projecting record sales of $1.55 trillion for 2026, examining industry trends, challenges, and growth outlook.
• 2025 State of the Restaurant Industry Report Annual restaurant industry research report projecting $1.5 trillion in sales for 2025 with employment growth of 200,000 jobs.
• What's Hot Culinary Forecast Annual culinary trends report identifying top food and beverage trends for the upcoming year based on insights from culinary professionals.
• Restaurant TrendMapper Subscription Subscription-based trend tracking platform providing economic indicators, restaurant performance index, sales data, employment statistics, food and menu price tracking, and databank access.
• ProStart Culinary Education Program High school culinary and restaurant management education program with national curriculum, instructor training, and the competitive National ProStart Invitational offering $200K in scholarships.
• Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center Apprenticeship Programs U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship programs providing accredited training for line cooks, kitchen managers, and restaurant managers in partnership with employers.
• Kids LiveWell Free marketing program helping restaurants offer better-for-you meal options to families, with meals, sides, and beverages meeting nutrition criteria for calories, sodium, fat, and added sugar.
• Restaurant Law Center Legal Advocacy Independent public policy organization representing food service industry interests in courts and regulatory matters, providing legal advocacy and counsel.
• Restaurant Industry 2030 Report Futuristic study exploring operating trends and conditions expected in 2030, examining evolution of consumer, workforce, and operating trends.
• Restaurant Operations Data Abstract 2025 Comprehensive industry benchmarking data providing operational metrics and standards for restaurant operators.
• 2025 Off-Premises Restaurant Trends Report Research report examining off-premises dining behavior, consumer purchasing patterns, and demand for to-go offerings.
• Educational Foundation Scholarships Scholarship investments supporting students pursuing careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry, with nearly $1 million awarded in 2025.
• ELEVATE: DEI Framework for the Restaurant Industry Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion framework developed with the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance to support industry-wide DEI business practices.
• The Uniform System of Accounts for Restaurants Standardized accounting reference publication for restaurants providing industry-standard financial reporting framework.
• Americans with Disabilities Act Toolkit Toolkit supporting ADA compliance for restaurant operators with accessibility requirements and accommodation guidance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Industry contributes over $3.5 trillion annually to U.S. economy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, preferred, founding and minor.

• Winsight Holdings LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021The National Restaurant Association acquired a majority stake in Winsight Holdings LLC, a market intelligence company serving the restaurant and foodservice industries. Winsight maintains operational independence with its leadership remaining in place and continues to manage key industry events including the National Restaurant Association Show. The partnership supports industry rebuilding efforts and reinforces a relationship that began with the 2018 acquisition of the NRA Show.
• WorkdaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkday sponsored the National Restaurant Association's 2026 Research Insight report on workforce hiring and staffing, examining how workforce management practices and technology drive restaurant performance.
• Heartland (Payments)preferredTechnology or IntegrationHeartland serves as a technology partner and preferred partner for the National Restaurant Association, offering payment processing solutions to members.
• UnitedHealthcarepreferredStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnitedHealthcare offers exclusive members-only pricing on health benefits for National Restaurant Association members through the restaurant healthcare program.
• KellanovafoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKellanova is the founding sponsor of the Kids LiveWell program, supporting the initiative to provide better-for-you meal options for children dining in restaurants.
• Food DirectionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood Directions provides professional dietitian consulting services for the Kids LiveWell certification process, reviewing menu items and helping operators meet nutrition criteria.
• Compass GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompass Group formed a strategic partnership with Thompson Hospitality (a member company), expanding Thompson's business into the contract foodservice sector.
• White LodgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhite Lodging partners with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's apprenticeship programs to provide on-the-job training combined with classroom learning for culinary careers.
• Atlas Restaurant GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlas Restaurant Group partners with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's apprenticeship programs to provide on-the-job training combined with classroom learning for culinary careers.
• ResyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerResy is a digital dining platform that sponsors the Always Ready emergency preparedness guides. Resy powers restaurant reservations and provides booking software for passionate diners.
• Tork (Essity)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTork, a brand of Essity offering professional hygiene products and services, sponsors National Food Safety Month content and resources.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Hotel & Lodging Association: The AHLA is the lodging industry's leading trade association, mirroring NRA's structure with advocacy, state-affiliate network, training/certification programs, and major industry events. Both operate as 501(c)(6) organizations serving hospitality operators with similar member-benefit, GTM, and revenue-mix models.
• FMI - The Food Industry Association: FMI is the trade association for food retailers and wholesalers, closely overlapping with NRA on the foodservice/supply-chain side. It operates a similar membership, advocacy, research, and education model and co-serves many of NRA's supplier members, making it the most directly comparable foodservice-adjacent trade body.
• International Franchise Association: IFA represents franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers, including a large share of restaurant chains that are also NRA members. It uses the same trade-association playbook (advocacy, education, events, state affiliate network) for a closely overlapping membership base.

Broad incumbents

• National Retail Federation: NRF is one of the largest U.S. retail trade associations, with a comparable advocacy/events/research operating model but broader retail scope. Its Big Show conference and policy infrastructure are structurally analogous to NRA's NRA Show and Restaurant Law Center.
• U.S. Travel Association: U.S. Travel is the national trade association for the travel industry, sharing NRA's advocacy-led model with a federal policy agenda, research products, and industry events. It serves a different but hospitality-adjacent operator base.
• Consumer Brands Association: Consumer Brands (formerly GMA) represents packaged goods manufacturers, many of whom are NRA exhibitors and supplier members. It mirrors NRA's advocacy + research + events model for the CPG side of the foodservice ecosystem.
• American Gaming Association: AGA is the trade body for the U.S. casino gaming industry, using the same member-funded advocacy, research, and industry-development model. It is comparable in size and operational structure but serves a non-overlapping hospitality vertical.
• National Association of Home Builders: NAHB operates as a large, federation-style trade association with 700+ state and local affiliates, similar to NRA's 52 state-association structure. Both run member education/certification programs and major industry trade shows.
• American Bankers Association: ABA is the trade association for the U.S. banking industry, with comparable advocacy, certification (e.g., CRCM), research, and conference portfolio. It is comparable in operating model but operates in an entirely different vertical.

Others

• Prometric: Prometric is a major testing and certification delivery provider. It is comparable to NRA's ServSafe subsidiary as a credentialing and certification infrastructure provider, and represents an alternative delivery model for NRA's training business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/werrestaurants
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@restaurantdotorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/WeRRestaurants
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-restaurant-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/werrestaurants

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Restaurant Association