Illinois Restaurant Association
The Illinois Restaurant Association is a 1914-founded Chicago-based non-profit trade association serving restaurant operators, bars, breweries, hotels, and allied vendors across Illinois through advocacy, ServSafe certification training, member services, events, and the IRA Educational Foundation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1914
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Illinois Restaurant Association does
The Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA), founded in 1914 and headquartered at 33 W. Monroe, Suite 250, Chicago, is a 501(c)-style non-profit trade association and the largest, most active resource for the restaurant and hospitality industry in the state of Illinois. With 51–100 employees, it serves restaurant operators, bars, breweries, hotels, and allied vendors/suppliers across the state through a diversified service portfolio: ServSafe Sanitation Manager, Food Handler, and Alcohol/BASSET certifications (approved by Illinois and Chicago Departments of Health), Summer Festival Vendor Sanitation Certification, on-demand educational webinars, advocacy initiatives including the 27-organization Protect Illinois Hospitality coalition and the Illinois Restaurateurs PAC, member services such as the IRA Job Board and the IRA Legal Network, and the IRA Educational Foundation (IRAEF) which administers a $500 Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, ProStart workforce development, and scholarships. The IRA also runs flagship events including Chicago Gourmet, the Annual Meeting, Golf Classic, Chef's Table, Cubs Rooftop Membership Mixer, Meet the Experts, and Taste of Chicago.
The IRA operates no proprietary technology platform; its technology footprint is composed of an association management website (illinoisrestaurants.org), email newsletters, virtual Zoom training, and integrations with partner systems such as ServSafe training platforms and a Culinary Agents-powered job board. Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring membership dues from operators across the state (subscription-style, pricing not publicly disclosed), unit-priced training and certification classes (e.g., $40 member / $45 non-member for Summer Festival certification, with ServSafe classes priced higher), event ticket sales and tiered corporate sponsorships (Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze tiers), and contributions to the Illinois Restaurateurs PAC. Distribution is omnichannel: direct membership enrollment via phone (312-787-4000) and in-person, self-serve website registration for classes and webinars, on-site private ServSafe classes for groups of 10+, and virtual live sessions on topics including tax strategy, AI implementation, and compliance.
Illinois Restaurant Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Illinois Restaurant Association
- Legal name
- Illinois Restaurant Association
- Website
- https://illinoisrestaurants.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1914
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Illinois Restaurant Association is a 1914-founded Chicago-based non-profit trade association serving restaurant operators, bars, breweries, hotels, and allied vendors across Illinois through advocacy, ServSafe certification training, member services, events, and the IRA Educational Foundation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Illinois Restaurant Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Trade Association (Restaurant and Hospitality)
- NAICS
- Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers (THAHABAI)
Keywords
Where Illinois Restaurant Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Illinois Restaurant Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from restaurant operators, bars, and hospitality businesses throughout Illinois. Membership provides benefits, resources, training discounts, advocacy representation, and access to industry network.
- Training and Certification Classes: Revenue from ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification, Food Handler Certification, BASSET Alcohol Certification, and Summer Festival Vendor Certification classes held at the IRA office and on-site locations.
- Events and Sponsorships: Revenue from events including Chicago Gourmet, Annual Meeting, Golf Classic, Chef's Table, Cubs Rooftop Mixer, and Taste of Chicago. Corporate sponsorships at Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers.
- Political Action Committee Contributions: The Illinois Restaurateurs PAC accepts contributions from members to support candidates and issues favorable to the Illinois foodservice industry.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification - Member pricing |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification - Non-member pricing |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Summer Festival Sanitation Certification - Member pricing |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Summer Festival Sanitation Certification - Non-member pricing |
| Unit Pricing | One time/ perpetual license | Food Handler Certification |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Illinois Restaurant Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Illinois Restaurant Association is a membership-based non-profit trade association that provides restaurant and hospitality operators in Illinois with ServSafe certification training, industry advocacy, member benefits, networking events, and educational programming. Its offerings span four certification courses, advocacy initiatives, signature events (Chicago Gourmet, Annual Meeting, Golf Classic, Chef's Table), and workforce development programs administered through its Educational Foundation (IRAEF).
Product overview
The Illinois Restaurant Association (IRA) is a non-profit trade organization, not a technology product company. It does not offer a unified software platform or product suite. The IRA's services consist of advocacy and member support programs including: training and certification programs (ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification, ServSafe Food Handler Certification, ServSafe Alcohol/BASSET Certification, Summer Festival Vendor Sanitation Certification), educational content (Webinars On Demand covering topics like AI in restaurants, tax strategies, and compliance), advocacy initiatives (Protect Illinois Hospitality Coalition, Illinois Restaurateurs PAC), member services (IRA Job Board, Cook County Small Business Source partnership, Legal Network, Health and Wellness programs), and events (Chicago Gourmet, Annual Meeting, Golf Classic, Chef's Table). The IRA also operates the Educational Foundation which administers the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, ProStart workforce development, and scholarship programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ServSafe Sanitation Manager Certification
Quantifiable outcome
- 89% of surveyed restaurants increased menu prices after minimum tipped wage increase
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Illinois Restaurant Association
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Illinois Restaurant Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Illinois Restaurant Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cook County Small Business SourcecoreThe Illinois Restaurant Association is a Business Support Organization in the Cook County Small Business Source program, providing one-on-one business advising services to small businesses in Cook County with fewer than 20 employees at no cost. The partnership offers free business coaching covering business plans, credit, market growth, procurement, and grant/loan preparation.
- National Restaurant AssociationcoreThe IRA is affiliated with the National Restaurant Association, sharing resources, training programs (ServSafe), and industry standards. Co-hosts events including NRA Public Affairs Conference and National Restaurant Show Political Reception.
- Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO)minorPartner for Advantage Illinois loan programs providing access to capital for restaurants and small businesses through Participation Loan Program and Loan Guarantee Program.
- ServSafe / National Restaurant Association SolutionscoreIRA offers ServSafe certification programs (Sanitation Manager, Food Handler, Alcohol/BASSET) approved by Illinois Department of Health, Chicago Department of Health, and the National Restaurant Association. ServSafe Ops online training platform also endorsed.
- Cook County Bureau of Economic DevelopmentminorPartner for small business support including access to grants, certifications, and the Cook County Source Grant program for restaurant operators.
- Illinois Department of Human ServicesminorPartner for free human trafficking recognition training required under Illinois law for restaurant and lodging employees.
- Diamond Corporate Sponsors (Southern Glaziers, US Foods, Sysco, DoorDash)minorDiamond level corporate sponsors include Southern Glazier's (beverage distribution), US Foods (food distribution), Sysco (food distribution), DoorDash (delivery platform), and others supporting IRA events and programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Illinois Restaurant Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association: Michigan's combined restaurant and lodging trade association providing advocacy, education, and member benefits - a regional peer serving a comparable Midwest operator base with similar regulatory exposure.
- Texas Restaurant Association: Texas's statewide restaurant trade association offering advocacy, ServSafe training, and member services - structurally and operationally near-identical to IRA but serving a larger and less-regulated market.
- California Restaurant Association: State-level trade association for California restaurants. Same membership/advocacy/training business model as IRA, but operating in a larger and more heavily regulated market (minimum wage, AB-1228).
- New York State Restaurant Association: Statewide trade association representing New York's restaurant industry with advocacy, training, and member benefits - functionally a direct peer given comparable urban-centric operator base and intense regulatory environment.
- Ohio Restaurant Association: Ohio's statewide restaurant industry association offering legislative advocacy, ServSafe training, and member programs - a structurally direct peer to IRA at similar organizational scale.
- Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association: Pennsylvania's combined restaurant and lodging trade association. Operates the same member dues + training + advocacy + events model that IRA does, with similar scale and geographic constraint.
- Florida Restaurant Association: Florida's statewide restaurant industry association providing advocacy, education, and member services comparable to IRA's offerings, though serving a different geographic and regulatory environment.
- Georgia Restaurant Association: Georgia's restaurant trade association providing advocacy, workforce development (ProStart), and member benefits mirroring IRA's portfolio of services.
- Massachusetts Restaurant Association: Massachusetts's statewide restaurant association offering member services, advocacy, and training comparable to IRA's mix, particularly relevant given both states' tight labor and wage regulation.
Broad incumbents
- National Restaurant Association: The national federation of state restaurant associations and IRA's explicit affiliate. IRA co-hosts events with the NRA (Public Affairs Conference, Restaurant Show) and shares ServSafe certification standards, making it the closest umbrella-level peer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Illinois Restaurant Association social profiles
Digital presenceIllinois Restaurant Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Illinois Restaurant Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Illinois Restaurant Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Illinois Restaurant Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Illinois Restaurant Association
What does Illinois Restaurant Association do?
The Illinois Restaurant Association is a membership-based non-profit trade association that provides restaurant and hospitality operators in Illinois with ServSafe certification training, industry advocacy, member benefits, networking events, and educational programming. Its offerings span four certification courses, advocacy initiatives, signature events (Chicago Gourmet, Annual Meeting, Golf Classic, Chef's Table), and workforce development programs administered through its Educational Foundation (IRAEF).
Is Illinois Restaurant Association a public or private company?
Illinois Restaurant Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Illinois Restaurant Association founded?
Illinois Restaurant Association was founded in 1914. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Illinois Restaurant Association based?
Illinois Restaurant Association is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Illinois Restaurant Association make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are training and Certification Classes, events and Sponsorships and political Action Committee Contributions.
Who are Illinois Restaurant Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Michigan Restaurant & Lodging Association, Texas Restaurant Association, California Restaurant Association, New York State Restaurant Association, Ohio Restaurant Association, Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, Florida Restaurant Association, Georgia Restaurant Association and Massachusetts Restaurant Association. National Restaurant Association is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Illinois Restaurant Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Illinois Restaurant Association.
What industry is Illinois Restaurant Association in?
Illinois Restaurant Association's product category is Industry Trade Association (Restaurant and Hospitality). Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAI, Food, Beverage & Hospitality Trade Shows Organizers. Its NAICS code is 56192 and its SIC code is 8600.