Restaurants and retailers of poultry products are reminded to buy only from reputable sources...

Kiwis now have more reasons to enjoy the delicious taste of fresh milk more often, thanks to Anchor’s introduction of New Zealand’s only triple layer, 100% LIGHT PROOF^TM bottle.  This innovation is designed to deliver Kiwis the best tasting milk in the world by locking in the taste and goodness nature intended.

As you know we are in the process of upgrading our www.dinefind.co.nz dining guide website, which promotes Restaurant Association member establishments. We hope you will be as excited as us by the modern new look and new features on the site.

New Zealand small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) can now look for electricity savings through a new initiative launched by the Electricity Authority. Following the success of the "What's My Number" residential campaign, SMEs now also have the opportunity to easily check they are with the most cost effective electricity provider for their business needs at www.whatsmynumber.org.nz/mybusiness.

Large establishments have to roll up hundreds of pieces of cutlery often many times a day and with no simple cutlery wrap solution in the market, Tork set about to create one.

You pride your business on providing an exceptional customer experience and for the most part your customers are happy and business is going well but at some point you will have to deal with a customer whose experience has not met their expectations. Does your business have a set process for dealing with different types of customer complaints?

Insurance in NZ is more costly following the earthquakes and it doesnt matter where you are situated because the whole country is now seen as riskier by insurers and global reinsurers. And its not just earthquakes; think tornados, floods, snowstorms, landslips, etc. Check out the map below and you will see how expensive and frequent these natural disasters have been.

The Restaurant Association will be at the Restaurant and Bar Show and NZ Culinary Fare this weekend, at the ASB Showgrounds, so if you are in Auckland drop by and see us on 19, 20 or 21 ^st and join us for breakfast on Tuesday morning.

The Department Of Labour (DOL) have just begun a project which will involve them visiting hospitality businesses between now and June next year to ensure they have written employment agreements in place in their businesses.

CityLife Auckland A Heritage Hotel - set conveniently on Queen Street is offering a special for NZ Culinary Fare out of town visitors

Fundamentally loyalty is about having customers who are passionate enough about your product, service, or both, that they want to return to your business to experience it again. The most important part of your loyalty program is having a product and service that your customers like.

With more than 3,000 cafes from Cape Reinga to Bluff, its clear that New Zealand is a cafe-loving nation, and entries are now being accepted for the Cafe of the Year competition to determine which will be crowned the country's best.

The Restaurant Association's 2012 Hospitality Industry Remuneration Survey indicates that wage rates for the industry increased by just 1c over the past year overall, a reflection of the increasingly difficult trading conditions that hospitality operators are experiencing. The average salary increased by 2% from 2011 to 2012.

The Restaurant Association has received confirmation from the Inland Revenue on the tax treatment of restaurant tips which seems to back track from previous advice...

Recently, the Restaurant Association of New Zealand and Grant Thornton, our financial advisers and one of the Associations key partners, sought formal confirmation from Inland Revenue on the tax treatment of restaurant tips. This request was made so that we could confidently publish this advice to Restaurant Association members, informing members on how to meet these tax obligations.

The Angus brand owns a variety of eating establishments on the south island of New Zealand, focused on delivering a wide range of delicious food (including prime Angus beef) and excellent service in a modern environment.

The Restaurant Association wants to ensure that all members are taking advantage of the full range of exclusive services and benefits available to them through the Association. There have been a number of new initiatives introduced over the past few months.

Restaurants and cafes are invited to get involved in this years Fish & Game Gamebird Food Festival.

We have been alerted by Auckland member, Soul Bar & Bistro to a dodgy email complaint doing the rounds at the moment. We post below the complaint to make other members aware (as well as Soul's reply).

Remembering Japan one year on...

A new building under construction at Half Moon Bay in east Auckland and designated to contain a range of restaurants, cafes and takeout facilities is scheduled to open mid-year.

On the 21st February, international pancake day, Marcels is celebrating an international tradition and holding New Zealands first Pancake Day and Race. The event, entitled Marcels Great Pancake Race, is open to all and will feature races and pancakes to anyone attending in Auckland.

Workplace harassment and bullying does occur but clearly it is unacceptable behaviour under any circumstances. As a responsible employer you should be clearly communicating this to all employees, contractors and visitors to your business as not only do you, as an employer, have a moral obligation to protect your employees from harassment, New Zealand law also requires it.

The Restaurant Association has entered a relationship with restaurant and cafe website design specialists Eveve to offer members a low cost, effective website design package to suit your needs.