Restaurants Get Creative As Supply Chain Strains

Ivar's, a renowned seafood restaurant in Seattle, faces challenges due to supply chain disruptions. The restaurant's president, Bob Donegan, discusses how they manage these issues by setting up backup distribution networks. The global supply chain bottleneck is evident in Seattle, with thousands of containers waiting to be unloaded. Merlino Foods, a local distributor, struggles with delays in receiving products from Italy. Rising costs have forced Ivar's to increase prices, but Donegan remains committed to overcoming these challenges and ensuring the restaurant's longevity.

What is a significant challenge Ivar's restaurant faced during the busiest time of the year?

• A major supplier failed to deliver

• A sudden drop in customer visits

• A fire in the kitchen

• A health inspection failure

How did Ivar's respond to the supply chain disruptions?

• By importing ingredients from Europe

• By changing their menu

• By setting up a backup distribution network

• By closing some locations

What is one of the main causes of frustration for food distributors like Merlino Foods?

• Increased competition from other distributors

• Delays in unloading ships at Seattle

• Longer shipping times from Italy

• Lack of skilled workers

What is a consequence of the global supply chain issues mentioned in the transcript?

• Increase in restaurant openings

• Decrease in food quality

• Reduction in seafood availability

• Rising cost of food

What action did Ivar's take in response to rising costs?

• They offered more discounts

• They reduced portion sizes

• They raised their prices by 4%

• They started sourcing locally