Help Save Independent Restaurants

Winter is Coming: How You Can Help Save Restaurants During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has put independent restaurants in a dire situation. They need our help.

The restaurant community has been an essential partner to Niman Ranch since our early days. Without passionate chefs who want to support small, sustainable family farms, our brand would not exist today. These chefs are invested in our success and are pivotal partners to Niman Ranch. Unfortunately, the pandemic has created an extinction event for restaurants across the country, which will ultimately impact the livelihoods of farmers.

• 3 million restaurant jobs have been lost since the beginning of the pandemic; more than any other industry
• 85% of our country’s small independent restaurants are in danger of closing
• The National Restaurant Association estimates that 100,000 restaurants have already closed this year; 1 in 6 of all restaurants in the country

With winter around the corner and outdoor dining disappearing in much of the country, many restaurants just won’t be able to make it without a lifeline.

Throughout the pandemic we have donated more than 10,000 pounds of Niman Ranch Certified Humane meats to chefs across the country, who served an estimated 40,000 meals to our neighbors in need. But we know this is just a band aid and we need support from Washington. You can help chefs, servers, and all those dependent on the restaurant industry by urging your elected officials to provide federal relief.

RESTAURANTS Act 2020

Please contact your U.S. Senators and ask them to pass the bipartisan RESTAURANTS Act, a revitalization fund that would issue grants to locally owned restaurants so they can keep their lights on this winter.

Below is a sample script and the U.S. Capitol Switchboard phone number.

Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected with your state’s Senators.

Hi, my name is <NAME> living in <CITY, STATE>. I’m calling to ask the Senator to please pass the bipartisan RESTAURANTS Act now. Independent restaurants are cornerstones of my community, providing jobs and supporting U.S. family farmers. Without relief, as many as 85% of independent restaurants could permanently close by the end of the year with 11 million employees and millions more along the supply chain at risk of losing their jobs. We need your help to make sure this doesn’t happen. Thank you.

We know making these calls can be intimidating, but they have a real impact. If you would like to see more ways to help, please visit www.saverestaurants.com. Of course, continue to order take out, buy gift cards and tip generously at your local neighborhood restaurants.

Thank you for supporting independent restaurants, and in turn, independent family farmers in the Niman Ranch network.