Published on Sunday, March 15, 2026 The hospitality sector is currently facing its most formidable challenge: a structural, protracted shortage of seasoned professionals. While coordinated initiatives have successfully stabilized entry-level recruitment, the focus has fundamentally shifted to a devastating “Missing Middle”—the pivotal stratum of skilled managers, sous chefs, and senior operational personnel indispensable for sustaining…
The leading solution for food service and retail establishments’ food safety is an essential part of any food service or retail operation. Understanding the risks and ways to prevent foodborne illness will protect customers and businesses from harm. The person in charge of a food service or retail establishment must know how and what food…
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on January 11, 2026 Brad Peters, Founder & CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The landscape of modern hospitality is undergoing a revolutionary transformation. The intense battle for the contemporary traveler’s time and wallet has forced…
Effective January 1, 2026, a new law (known as the “SC Justice Act” or Act 42 / H. 3430) went into effect in South Carolina. While it technically keeps the headline requirement for $1 million in liquor liability insurance, it offers businesses specific ways to lower that coverage requirement significantly—potentially down to $300,000—which is intended…
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on January 4, 2026 Brad Peters, Founder & CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The hospitality industry, an essential pillar of local economies and the very epitome of “Main Street” commerce, is currently confronting a severe…
Published on January 2, 2026 Brad Peters, Founder & CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The continued viability of independent and national dining and drinking establishments is gravely imperiled. After forty years in the hospitality sector, my assessment is that the industry is in a precipitous decline, evidenced by the…
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on December 14, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The legal resolution involving Panda Express ($1.05 million settlement) concerning a carbon dioxide incident serves as a significant and costly cautionary example…
Nationally Accredited. Food Protection Manager Certification Exam. Secure your future in the food service industry with the Always Food Safe Food Protection Manager Certification. Our ANSI/ANAB-accredited program is designed for modern food managers who need a flexible, engaging, and stress-free path to certification. Whether you are a restaurant owner, kitchen manager, or aspiring shift lead,…
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 23, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program Thanksgiving Eve, once merely acknowledged as the high-volume travel day preceding the customary American holiday feast, has decidedly transcended that quotidian status….
Listen to the Podcast Short at: Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube Published on November 9, 2025 Brad Peters, Founder, Director, CEO of HRBUniversal & The Plate & Pour Collective Equity Partner Program The pervasive reliance on third-party food delivery applications has created an increasingly untenable operational model, threatening the long-term viability and profitability of…