Omicron Variant Hit Restaurant Industry Hard; Replenishing the RRF Forecast to Save more than 45,000 New Jersey Jobs

New survey from National Restaurant Association shows 30,000 jobs saved with first round of RRF Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Trenton, NJ (Jan. 24, 2022) – The New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association today released new survey data highlighting the devastating impact the omicron variant has had so far, and the positive impact the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) had on the New Jersey industry. According to National Restaurant Association analysis, the first round of RRF funding saved more than 30,000 New Jersey jobs and helped 100% of recipients of a grant stay in business.

In addition, the survey found:

• Nearly 60% of restaurant operators that did not receive RRF grants feel it’s unlikely that they will stay in business beyond the pandemic without a grant.
• 100% of restaurant operators that applied for an RRF grant, but did not receive funding, said a future grant would enable them to retain or hire back employees.

“This highlights how impactful RRF replenishment would be. The National Restaurant Association estimates indicate that full replenishment of the RRF will save an additional 45,000 restaurant jobs,” said New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association President & CEO Dana Lancellotti.  “The RRF was a critical lifeline to many, but far more are still desperately looking for support amidst continued economic uncertainty. The decisions Congress will make in the coming weeks will be critical to the future of our New Jersey restaurant industry.”

The restaurant industry has been hit hard again by the latest surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the omicron variant. Forced to adapt to deteriorating consumer confidence, restaurants reduced hours/days of operation, cut seating capacity, and shutdown, pivoting to off-premises dining with the end result being lower sales volumes in 2021 than in 2019.

According to the survey, we know:

• 93% of restaurants experienced a decline in customer demand for indoor on-premises dining in because of the omicron variant.
• 80% of operators report that business conditions are worse now than three months ago.
• 70% say their restaurant is less profitable now than it was before the pandemic.

The New Jersey findings were provided by the National Restaurant Association Research Group, which conducted a COVID-19 Restaurant Impact Survey of 4,200 restaurant operators Jan. 16-18, 2022. Read the report of key New Jersey findings here.

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About New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association
New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association (NJRHA) was founded in 1942 to support, educate and advocate on behalf of the hospitality industry throughout the state. Representing over 25,000 foodservice establishments and 350,000 employees, NJRHA represents the state’s largest private-sector employer and generates $18.1 billion in tax revenue for the state. Visit www.njrha.org.

About the National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry’s largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube.