<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Washington, DC-</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">12.12.12</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The National Restaurant Association is predicting that despite economic challenges, America’s 980,000 restaurants are expected to post record sales and continue to be a leading job creator in 2013. Total restaurant industry sales are slated to exceed $660 billion in 2013. This would present a 3.8 percent increase over 2012. With the bump, it would make it the fourth consecutive year of sales growth for the industry. Additionally, 2013 will be the 14th consecutive year in which restaurant industry employment will outpace overall employment.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“Despite a continued challenging operating environment, the restaurant industry remains a strong driver in the nation’s economy,” said Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. “Ours is a resilient and flexible industry that continually finds new ways to keep growing, relying on the creativity and innovation exhibited by the entrepreneurial spirit. In 2013, restaurant operators will continue to explore ways of navigating the rocky economic landscape to find the road to success.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">US Consumers are expected to make more healthful choices when they eat out in 2013 with over 70% of people noting that they are trying to eat better at restaurants now than they did two years ago, according to a press release. Around 86% state that restaurants are offering a wider variety now than two years ago. Additionally, more than seven out of ten consumers say they are more likely to visit a restaurant with locally produced menu options. Over six out of ten noted that locally sourced menus are a key attribute when they select a restaurant.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“The fact that the restaurant industry will continue to grow in an operating environment that presents substantial challenges is a testament to the essential role that restaurants play in our daily lives,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president, Research & Knowledge for the National Restaurant Association. “Restaurants are offering products and services that consumers actively seek out and enjoy; an activity in which consumers are selecting to engage despite cash-on-hand restraints because it is an important component of their lifestyle.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.restaurant.org/foodhealthyliving" target="_new">National Restaurant Association</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
