Education in Food Service Industries

The food service industry encompasses businesses and establishments that prepare food for consumption outside of the home. With small profit margins and success far from certain, education and training can provide the competitive advantage that many businesses and individuals seek. Food preparation and service form an integral part of the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors, as dining out is commonly combined with lodging and entertainment venues. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), in the United States, the industry includes almost 1 million restaurant and food service operations with 13.5 million employees, who represent 10% of the nation’s workforce. Educational opportunities to develop these employees include on-the-job training, in-house training programs, professional development, and formal certifications and college degrees. Considering that 8 out of 10 ...