JBF’s Industry Resources, Reports, and Programs to Help Your Business Thrive

The James Beard Foundation 2026 Independent Restaurant Industry Report, created in collaboration with Deloitte, brings together insights from an extensive research study of 420+ restaurant owners and professionals. The report highlights the state of the industry, emerging trends, and critical factors that the independent restaurant industry can leverage to thrive and create progress in the year ahead.

The annual report is just one resource supporting the James Beard Foundation’s mission to lead chefs and the broader culinary industry towards a new standard of excellence by championing equity, building community, and creating a sustainable industry where all can thrive. Through data-driven research that illuminates industry trends and challenges, the JBF Institute’s hands-on training programs, and food system policy advocacy efforts , our Impact work addresses the operational, educational, and policy challenges facing independent restaurants.

These holistic resources are designed to strengthen the restaurant community, develop leaders and advocates, sharpen business acumen, and help restaurant professionals understand the forces shaping the industry. Together, they provide a roadmap to help you and your business thrive and grow in the year ahead. 

Impact Programs

Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change®

Our Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change® provides a unique opportunity for civically and politically minded chefs to become more effective leaders for industry and food-system change through an immersive three-day workshop experience.

Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

Our Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program (WEL) provides owners/co-owners of food and beverage businesses with the opportunity to refine and articulate their vision for growth, develop long-term strategies to scale, grow as a leader, and create a network of support through a 10-week virtual training.

Business Resources

ABCs of Accounting

ABCs of Accounting is an educational resource that seeks to help independent restaurant chefs, owners, and operators tackle one of the industry's biggest challenges: rising costs. This comprehensive package teaches participants to optimize their operations using the Activity-based Costing (ABC) methodology, combining curriculum-based learning with a plug-and-play costing tool. Users will be able to analyze their profit and loss statements more effectively, identify operational inefficiencies, conduct strategic pricing techniques, and make data-driven decisions about pricing, budgeting, and forecasting.

Financial Literacy Workshop for Women/Non-Binary Entrepreneurs

The Financial Literacy Workshop for Women is an annual two-day event that provides women and non-binary hospitality entrepreneurs at all stages of their career with the financial literacy training they need to get to their next level.

Advocacy

The James Beard Foundation® advocates for policies that make a more equitable and sustainable food system for the independent restaurant industry across four pillars: U.S. Food Culture, Equity, Sustainability, and Industry Culture and Practices. We mobilize a network of thousands of chefs to support our policy priorities, such as SNAP expansion and funding for POC farmers, as well as their own advocacy efforts.

Immigration Support Resources

Immigrants are an integral part of the independent restaurant industry and our mission of building a culture of Good Food for Good®. As such, we believe that all immigrants, no matter their documentation status, deserve to know their rights and have access to appropriate legal resources. 

The Climate Reality for Independent Restaurants

This report analyzes how climate shifts are affecting the financial stability of independent restaurants. Developed with George Washington University and the Global Food Institute, the study uses industry data to pinpoint where climate pressures hit hardest and offers evidence-based recommendations for helping independent restaurants build operational resilience against environmental uncertainty. 

Virtual Resources

Business Essentials 

This video playlist includes ABCs of Accounting, Financial Literacy Workshops, Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Summit, and other webinar and event replays that aim to provide hospitality entrepreneurs at all stages of their career with the business acumen training to sustain and grow their businesses.

Policy Advocacy 

This video playlist includes various sessions covering topics like voting, engaging with Congress, and food policy, including the Restaurant Survival Campaign and Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change®.

Queer All Year Series with the Queer Food Foundation

This year-round webinar series offers robust conversations about the intersectionality of LGBTQ+ identity and food with chefs and other culinary professionals and celebrates the community year-round. Each panel highlights several aspects (the good, bad, and hopeful) of queer food spaces.