The Americas
School Nutrition Association calls for greater government investment
The School Nutrition Association’s 54th annual Legislative Action Conference in Washington D.C, brought together school nutrition directors, administrators and industry leaders for three days of policy discussions, education sessions and meetings with lawmakers focused on the future of school meal programs. The message was made clear for policymakers, that if the US expects schools to continue improving the quality and nutritional value of the meals served to students each day, the federal government must increase its investment in the programs responsible for delivering those meals.
Labor department proposes new joint employer rule
The US Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new rule that would create a national standard for what qualifies as “joint employer” status. This proposed rule will attempt to clarify who is responsible for compliance with wage-and-hour worker protections. The joint employer definition has been a stubborn issue for restaurant chains that franchise. The definition essentially determines what businesses are responsible for compliance with minimum wage, overtime and other labor laws. As a joint employer, a restaurant franchisor could potentially be liable for wage-and-hour violations of franchisees.
Asia Pacific
Hilton accelerates luxury and lifestyle growth in APAC
Hilton has announced new signings of luxury and lifestyle hotels joining its pipeline of more than 80 hotels in the categories in the APAC region. Hilton will debut eight luxury and lifestyle brands in new APAC markets this year, with over 15 more planned for 2026. These hotels add to a trading estate of more than 170 trading luxury and lifestyle hotels in the region and take Hilton closer to its goal of exceeding 250 hotels in the categories in coming years.
Radisson Hotel Group to create 60,000-80,000 jobs in India by 2030
Radisson Hotel Group (RHG) expects to create an estimated “60,000-80,000 jobs in India with its targeted 500 properties by 2030,” according to executive vice president Elie Younes to the Economic Times. The group considers India one of its top three most important markets globally. RHG currently has over 200 properties nationwide. Growth will be led mainly by the Radisson brand in the upscale segment with a mix of properties across tier I, II, III and IV cities along with resorts and spiritual destinations. The group is currently seeing “business as usual” in India despite the conflict, with lower occupancy rates elsewhere in hotels directly impacted, including Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Europe, Africa and Middle East
Franco Manca to close one fifth of restaurants as it enters CVA
The pizza restaurant that was among the first to pioneer sourdough Neapolitan pizza in the UK, will close more than a fifth of its outlets amid an onslaught from supermarkets and rival chains. The group cites higher payroll taxes, no rate relief, and higher UK VAT than in Europe as the reason. Marcel Khan, CEO of The Fulham Shore, said: “Even restaurant businesses that are doing all the right things from a customer and operational perspective are not immune to widely publicized pressures impacting the hospitality industry. This includes significant increases in NI and NLW in recent history, as well as a lack of business rates relief for the restaurant sector and disproportionately high VAT in the UK compared with Europe.”
McDonald’s launches nationwide paid work scheme for UK youth
From August, McDonald’s will roll out 2,500 paid work experience placements across the country, with 625 places ring-fenced for young people most at risk of dropping out of education and work. The scheme will be run through franchisees and prioritize areas with fewer opportunities. The company says the program is aimed at young people struggling to find their first job and is intended to address barriers to entering work, particularly rising youth unemployment. It plans to use its existing restaurant network to deliver the placements locally.
Lauren Hurrell
