News

NRA announces BAR event

The National Restaurant Association is expanding its beverage and alcohol program at the spring NRA show.

December 30, 2014

The National Restaurant Association is expanding beverage and alcohol programming at this spring’s NRA Show to help restaurant professionals develop successful bar programs, according to press release from the organization.

The newly named “BAR” event –  the Beverage Alcohol for Restaurants program – will be held May 17-18. Originally known as the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, BAR at NRA Show will feature expanded beverage and alcohol options and will be co-located with the 2015 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show, to be held May 16-19 in Chicago.

“We wanted our attendees to have a direct word association with BAR at NRA Show and its purpose, which is to connect beverage alcohol to restaurant brands and menus,” said convention chair John Metz, chef/co-owner of Marlow’s Tavern, Aqua Blue, and Hi Life Kitchen and Cocktails, and an NRA board member, in the release. “Now, not only the name, but also the location, will showcase the importance of beverage alcohol and foodservice working hand-in-hand to contribute to an operation’s bottom line.”

Educational events and sessions include:

• Restaurant Menu Pairings Program, which will team up dishes from some of Chicago’s hottest restaurants with various beverages
• Demo Lounge, where mixologists and other beverage experts demonstrate their skills, new products and current trends
• Pavilions, like Craftique, which will feature limited-production producers, including independent distilleries, breweries and wineries
• Bar Necessities, which will highlight nonalcoholic bar-program options that drive sales.

In addition to the BAR event, the NRA will host a Taking Control of you Alcohol Purchases webinar on Jan. 15 from 2 to 3 p.m. The webinar will feature Richard Verrecchia, VP of Fintech Analytics and Chad Hardwick, SVP of Sales.