The restaurant and catering industries move fast. These days, that’s partly because of the pace of technology. Luckily, technology can also help you stay on top of industry news and trends. By following the right Twitter accounts, it’s easy to soak up the latest restaurant management tips and strategies.
Here are eight of our favorite restaurant and foodservice influencers to check out on Twitter:
Nation’s Restaurant News – @NRNOnline
Nation’s Restaurant News is the paper of record for restaurant info. Look for business intelligence, actionable tips, and tech trends. Their Twitter account features restaurant funding news, marketing and menu engineering tips, and even the latest on dishware.
Recent highlights include: what Taco Bell does to prove its brand relevance, technology tools for employee retention, and how restaurants can win over Gen Z.
FSR magazine – @FSRmag
FSR magazine tags itself on Twitter as the “magazine for tablesetters, including chefs, owners, executives, and industry leaders.” Professionals in the full-service restaurant (FSR) industry should start here. FSR’s content covers topics that include kitchen efficiencies, improving dining experience, and developing culinary expertise.
Recent posts include stats provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on foodborne illnesses, interesting food trends, and how to handle negative online reviews.
QSR magazine – @QSRmagazine
QSR magazine shares insights and information on the fast-casual, quick-serve, and limited-service restaurant sector. Popular QSRs include McDonalds, Starbucks, Chipotle, and Panera Bread.
Recent updates from the account: an article on avocado and algae oil adding flavor to menus, an inspiring story of a 20-year old Chicago burrito chain, and a report on voice-activated technology ratcheting up pizza ordering among consumers.
Foodservice.com – @Foodservicecom
Foodservice.com is a social network for professionals in the foodservice and restaurant industry. Its Twitter account features the latest industry news from sites such as Forbes.com, Ars Technica, and Washington Post. You’ll also find articles from community contributors, restaurant listings, jobs, and market reports.
Recent stories cover an advertising war between Kellogg’s and Breitbart, and an app that lets users buy restaurant leftovers on the cheap.
Epicurious – @epicurious
Epicurious’ Twitter account is great for home cooking tips. Come here to fill your daily food porn quota. You’ll also find fast dinner ideas, nifty tips and tricks like using parchment paper to cook fish, and protein-packed meatless meal ideas for vegetarians.
The account is a prime example of the value of quality food photographs in online marketing. If you’re looking for social media inspiration, Epicurious could be a good model for your restaurant’s own social accounts.
National Restaurant Association – @WeRRestaurants
Arguably the largest foodservice association in the U.S., the National Restaurant Association supports over 500,000 foodservice businesses. The association’s Twitter account features industry news, inspirational stories, conference & networking announcements, and strategy tips.
Recent posts include a webinar tackling antibiotics use and animal welfare improvement, healthcare options for food industry professionals, and an article covering how technology improves talent selection and development.
Dan Barber – @DanBarber
A recipient of multiple James Beard awards and author of The Third Plate, Chef Barber is an advocate for a new “cuisine rooted in seasonal productivity, natural livestock rhythms, whole grains, and small portions of free-range meat.” He’s the co-owner and chef of Blue Hill, a New York City restaurant that showcases local food with ingredients sourced from nearby farms.
Chef Barber is also a food sustainability advocate, focusing on waste minimization.
Cheryl Bachelder – @CABachelder
Author and recipient of Nation’s Restaurant News 2015 Norman Brinker Award, Cheryl Bachelder is the CEO of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. According to her Twitter bio, she’s “focused on developing purpose-driven leaders who evidence competence and character in all aspects of their lives.” Her Twitter feed is a collection of inspirational leadership quotes from other influencers.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or you’re starting from scratch, you can accelerate your success by standing on the shoulders of giants.
Help us make this list better: Which Twitter influencers in the foodservice industry do you follow?