Louisiana Restaurant Association

What Louisiana Restaurant Association does

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1946 that represents Louisiana's restaurant and hospitality industry. Headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana, the LRA operates with a small staff of 11-50 employees and is led by President and CEO Stan Harris. The association generates revenue through four primary streams: recurring annual membership dues from restaurant and hospitality operators; ServSafe food safety and alcohol certification training delivered in person across multiple Louisiana locations; the annual LRA Showcase trade show at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (exhibitor, sponsor, and attendee fees); and the LRA Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund, a 42-year-old self-funded insurance program that collects premiums from member operators. Two wholly-owned affiliated entities extend the service scope: the LRA Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund (led by General Manager Dustin Hebert) and the LRA Education Foundation (LRAEF), which administers the ProStart culinary program.

The LRA's core product portfolio includes the ServSafe training suite (Manager, Alcohol, Food Handler, Allergens), the ProStart two-year culinary and restaurant management curriculum delivered in over 70 Louisiana high schools to approximately 2,200 students annually, the annual LRA Showcase trade show, and the workers' compensation self-insurance fund. Additional offerings include ServSuccess (a workforce development platform), Restaurant Owner training (powered by RestaurantOwner.com), and webinar series co-delivered with the National Restaurant Association. The technology backbone is a GrowthZone CMS-powered web platform at lra.org with a member hub at members.lra.org supporting self-serve membership enrollment, event registration, and resource access. No proprietary AI, API, or developer-facing platform is offered.

The LRA pursues a direct-to-consumer membership go-to-market, acquiring and retaining members through its website, member hub, networking events, local chapter meetings, and industry advocacy. It maintains a national affiliation with the National Restaurant Association for advocacy alignment, training programs, and shared best practices. Members receive industry-specific workers' compensation insurance, cost-saving programs through endorsed providers, ServSafe certification, ProStart workforce development, networking through local chapters, and access to the annual showcase event. The organization is governed by a volunteer executive committee with Octavio Mantilla (Co-Founder of BRG Hospitality) serving as 2026 Chair.

Name

Louisiana Restaurant Association

Legal name

Louisiana Restaurant Association

Website

https://lra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Louisiana Restaurant Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association founded in 1946 that represents Louisiana's restaurant and hospitality industry through membership dues, ServSafe training, the annual LRA Showcase trade show, a workers' compensation self-insurance fund, and the ProStart culinary education program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers (THAHABAI)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Food safety certification
• Workers compensation insurance
• Industry advocacy services
• Hospitality training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Metairie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees for restaurant and hospitality operators providing access to advocacy, networking, training, cost-saving programs, and workers' compensation insurance.
2. ServSafe Training and Certification: In-person food manager training seminars compliant with Louisiana Department of Health standards, including exam fees and course materials for food safety manager certification (LDH Gold Seal).
3. Trade Show and Event Revenue: The annual LRA Showcase generates revenue through exhibitor booth fees, attendee registration fees, and sponsorship opportunities. Non-member restaurant operators pay $50-$60 for admission while members receive complimentary passes.
4. Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund: The LRA Workers' Comp program provides industry-specific workers' compensation coverage for members, generating revenue through premiums while offering competitive rates through collective purchasing power.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Louisiana Restaurant Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that provides membership-based advocacy, training, certification, insurance, and networking services to Louisiana's restaurant and hospitality industry. Core offerings include ServSafe food safety certification programs, a workers' compensation self-insurance fund, the ProStart culinary education program in high schools, and the annual LRA Showcase trade show.

Product overview

The Louisiana Restaurant Association operates as a trade association providing a portfolio of membership services, training programs, insurance products, and industry events. Core training offerings include the ServSafe food safety certification suite (Manager, Alcohol, Food Handler, Allergens), available as in-person seminars across Louisiana locations. The association administers ProStart, a high school culinary education curriculum reaching over 70 schools statewide. LRA members receive access to a workers' compensation self-insurance fund, cost-saving programs through endorsed providers, and workforce development tools including RestaurantOwner.com. The annual LRA Showcase trade show and various webinar series provide networking and continuing education opportunities. No technology product, API, or AI-enabled platform is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ServSafe Manager Training In-person food manager certification course compliant with Louisiana Department of Health standards for Food Safety Manager certification (LDH Gold Seal). Offered at multiple Louisiana locations with exam language options including English, Spanish, and Chinese. Targeted at restaurant managers requiring food safety certification.
• ServSafe Alcohol Training Alcohol service training program for restaurant and hospitality staff covering responsible beverage service and compliance with alcohol serving regulations.
• ServSafe Food Handler Food handler training program covering essential food safety practices for front-line food service employees in restaurants and hospitality venues.
• ServSafe Allergens Training Specialized training program focusing on food allergen identification, prevention, and proper handling in restaurant environments.
• ServSuccess Workforce development and employee success platform designed for restaurant operators, providing tools for employee training and retention.
• Restaurant Owner Training Online training platform (powered by RestaurantOwner.com) providing restaurant management courses, operational checklists, and workforce technology resources at discounted rates for LRA members.
• LRA Workers' Compensation Self-Insurance Fund Self-funded workers' compensation insurance program specifically designed for Louisiana's restaurant and hospitality industry. Provides coverage, claims support, and loss prevention services for members.
• ProStart

Quantifiable outcome

• ProStart program reaches over 2,200 students annually in 70+ high schools
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Restaurant AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational affiliation with the National Restaurant Association provides access to national advocacy, research, training programs (ServSafe), industry trends, and resources. The LRA operates as the Louisiana state affiliate, participating in NRA conferences, sharing best practices, and aligning on federal policy positions.
• Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LRAEF is the education arm of the association, administering the ProStart culinary education program in Louisiana high schools, managing scholarships, and supporting student competitions and culinary career development.
• New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LRA Showcase annual trade show is held at the convention center, positioning the event alongside prestigious culinary competitions including the Bocuse d'Or Americas, World Pastry Cup, and Great American Seafood Cook-Off.
• Four Roses BourboncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the Four Roses Bourbon Twist on a Classic Cocktail Competition at the LRA Showcase, featuring Louisiana bartenders competing for prizes.
• Republic National Distributing CompanyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeverage distribution partner collaborating on the Four Roses Bourbon cocktail competition at LRA Showcase.
• Louisiana Office of TourismminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment tourism partner supporting LRA Showcase events and promoting Louisiana's culinary industry on the national stage.
• Louisiana Libations TrailminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCulinary tourism partner supporting cocktail competition and promoting Louisiana's beverage and hospitality experiences.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Restaurant Association: The national umbrella trade association for the U.S. restaurant industry and LRA's explicit affiliate. Directly comparable as the parent advocacy body providing ServSafe training, research, and federal advocacy that LRA delivers at the state level.

Direct peers

• Texas Restaurant Association: One of the largest state-level restaurant trade associations in the U.S., offering membership, advocacy, ServSafe training, and education programs with a comparable model to LRA but at a much larger scale.
• New York State Restaurant Association: State trade association serving New York's restaurant industry with advocacy, training, and member benefits—same operational model as LRA but in a significantly larger and more complex regulatory market.
• California Restaurant Association: California's primary restaurant trade association providing advocacy, training, and member services to operators—structurally analogous to LRA but operating in a larger, more regulated market.
• Georgia Restaurant Association: Georgia's state restaurant trade association providing advocacy, education, ServSafe training, and networking to member operators—comparable mission and program mix to LRA.
• Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association: Neighboring Gulf South state restaurant association with a similar mix of advocacy, training, and member services for Mississippi operators—highly comparable regional peer to LRA.
• Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association: State-level hospitality trade association offering advocacy, training, and member services to Florida restaurants and lodging operators—directly comparable in scope and member service mix to LRA.
• Illinois Restaurant Association: State-level restaurant trade association offering advocacy, education, ServSafe training, and the Great American Seafood Cook-Off—directly comparable in mission and programming to LRA.
• South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association: Southeast state trade association serving restaurant and lodging operators with advocacy, training, and networking—comparable operational model and member service mix to LRA.
• Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association: Neighboring state's restaurant and hospitality trade association offering comparable advocacy, training, and member programs—similar size and scope to LRA with regional adjacency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LaRestaurantAssoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/LaRestaurantAssoc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/louisiana-restaurant-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/louisiana_restaurant_assoc
• Xx.com/larestassoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Louisiana Restaurant Association