Navigating the Supply Chain During Global Conflicts

Global conflict isn’t just a news headline or a distant concern. It’s actively reshaping the restaurant industry’s cost structures and access to the foodservice supply chain. From the war in Eastern Europe to instability in the Middle East to ongoing trade tensions worldwide, geopolitical events are disrupting our commodity markets, increasing transportation costs, and creating volatility in pricing and availability of items.

Join us for this webinar connecting global developments to the real-world operational challenges restaurants now face. Dr. Chad Moutray Ph.D., the Association’s Senior Vice President of Research and Chief Economist, Laura Abshire, Senior Director of Food and Supply Chain Policy, and Bill Lapp, President of Advanced Economic Solutions, will provide practical insights on how these disruptions affect sourcing, menu- and long-term planning, and staffing—plus actionable strategies that build resilience in this increasingly uncertain environment.

Our subject matter experts will:

• Discuss how global conflicts influence the key commodities restaurateurs rely on (e.g., grains, oils, energy)
• Identify impacts on product sourcing, distribution, pricing, and availability
• Highlight near-term disruptions and their long-term risks to the industry
• Share strategies for resilience, including:
  • Supplier diversification
  • Menu flexibility
  • Risk management and contingency planning

We’ll also outline the Association’s advocacy priorities related to trade policy, supply chain stabilization, and regulatory considerations as well as how policymakers can support restaurant operators in this time of global uncertainty.