Donnie Madia: Impact of COVID-19 on Restaurant Industry

Restaurants are the hearts and souls of each community. Comprising 10% of the overall workforce in the U.S. with eleven million employees and adding $1 trillion to the economy, the restaurant industry is an essential player in the economic health and well-being of this country. This industry is feeling the brunt of COVD-19 pandemic, both for the employees and for the restaurateurs, and the effect is even more far reaching as farmers, fishermen, beverage distributors, linen services and other food and service suppliers are impacted. Restaurants are uniting to find solutions to sustain the workforce through this time and strategize on how to effectively navigate the landscape for what the "new normal" of the industry will be going forward.