Food and Beverage Management Commons^™

Origami Sake: Building A Sustainable Supply Chain For A New Beverage Startup, Akosua Sayer Koduah, Nick E. Johnston

ICHRIE Research Reports

Sustainability has become a strategic pillar in the hospitality and beverage industry, shaping supply chain decisions, consumer behavior, and market competitiveness. This study examines how Origami Sake, a startup brewery in Hot Springs, Arkansas, integrates sustainability into its supply chain from inception. Using qualitative analysis of company interviews, secondary data, and comparative literature, the study shows that Origami Sake embeds renewable energy, localized rice sourcing, and by-product reuse into its core operations. These practices reflect circular economy principles and strengthen regional identity, yet they also pose challenges related to packaging limitations, organic rice availability, data-tracking gaps, and the risks of …

From Miso To Tray-C: The Impact Of Hedonic And Utilitarian Name Preference On Non-Humanoid Service Robots In Restaurants, Fatmah Almeer, Amit Sharma

ICHRIE Research Reports

Service robots are become common in the restaurant industry. Robot suppliers recommend business name such robots to increase the likelihood of their acceptance by employees and consumers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the preferences of robot names representing "Utilitarian" and "Hedonic" attributes. Our findings show that study respondents had a significantly stronger preference for hedonic names compared to utilitarian names. Names with hedonic attributes were perceived positively and were considered more trustworthy. The name identified through this study was adopted for the service robot at a hospitality management program in the United States. This report also provides …

Passenger Delight In Liminal Spaces: Uncovering The Dynamics Of Airport Airside F&B, Thorsten Merkle, Sushanta Das

ICHRIE Research Reports

The airport airside environment is a unique and highly consequential setting for consumer behavior, where passengers’ food and beverage (F&B) decisions are shaped by time pressure, emotional states, and spatial constraints. This study empirically validates two complementary frameworks - the CX Delightors Framework and the Airport Airside Consumption Model - in the U.S. context to deepen understanding of passenger behavior in this liminal space. Using survey data from 1,374 passengers across three major U.S. hub airports (DEN, PHX, SLC), we conducted principal component analyses to refine the original nine CX Delightors attributes into five robust dimensions: Hospitality & Ambiance, Value …

Sustainable Practices In The Restaurant Industry: Review 2020-2025, Joel Reynolds

ICHRIE Research Reports

This review examines sustainability practices in the restaurant industry from 2020-2025, analyzing environmental, social, economic, and technological dimensions. Using a rigorous methodology including comprehensive database searches and thematic synthesis, we identified significant fragmentation across research streams and persistent gaps between theoretical frameworks and practical implementation. Our analysis reveals how contextual factors—including geographical location and restaurant segment—significantly influence sustainability approaches, challenging universal prescriptions. The review highlights critical methodological limitations in current research, particularly regarding measurement approaches, system boundaries, and ethical considerations of technological innovations. These findings provide a foundation for developing more integrated, context-sensitive sustainability frameworks for both researchers and practitioners.

Food Delivery Robots On College Campuses: Understanding Consumer Perceptions And Value Dimensions, Hayeon (Hailey) Choi, Hyun-Woo (David) Joung, Eun-Kyong (Cindy) Choi

ICHRIE Research Reports

The integration of autonomous delivery robots in the foodservice industry offers a promising innovation for enhancing delivery efficiency. College campuses, with their controlled environments and predictable layouts, serve as optimal testing grounds for these robots. This study examines the multifaceted values influencing the adoption and perception of food delivery robots on college campuses, providing insights for industry stakeholders. Findings indicate that functional and emotional values play the most significant role in shaping consumer perceptions, followed by price, novelty, and social values. However, preferences vary based on gender and role (students and faculty/staff), highlighting the need for targeted marketing strategies. These …

Effect Of Street-Pricing Deregulation In U.S. Airports On Customer Satisfaction, Thorsten Merkle, Satheesh Seenivasan, Sushanta Das

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study investigates the impact of pricing policies and food and beverage (F&B) strategies on traveler satisfaction in the dynamic airport environment, with a focus on Phoenix airport in comparison with two other (undisclosed) major U.S. airports. Using a mixed-methods approach that integrates unstructured observations and social media analytics, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of passenger behavior, satisfaction, and spending patterns in airside F&B outlets.

Key findings reveal that traveler satisfaction is driven by factors such as service quality, timeliness, perceived value, and emotional engagement, with price sensitivity playing a relatively minor role. Phoenix International Airport exemplifies a successful …

Effectiveness Of Generative Ai In Craft Beer Promotional Campaigns For Small Breweries, Christopher Eastment, Jangwoo Jo

ICHRIE Research Reports

The study explores the effectiveness of Generative AI, specifically Large Language Models (LLMs), in creating promotional campaigns for small breweries, with a focus on Burns Family Artisan Ales' Cold Spell IPA. It assesses the potential of LLMs in crafting narratives and marketing strategies, balancing creativity and relevance to the brand's identity. The research examines the LLM's capabilities in producing both textual and visual content, evaluating their alignment with marketing objectives and brand ethos. The findings reveal strengths in textual content creation but limitations in visual content, emphasizing the need for human oversight. The study contributes insights into integrating AI in …

Harnessing The Power Of Large Language Models (Llms) In Crafting Employee Manuals: A Case Study Of A Small Local Restaurant, Camille Rawinski, Jangwoo Jo

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study examines the efficacy of Large Language Models (LLMs), specifically GPT-4, in creating employee manuals for small businesses, focusing on a family-owned restaurant. Addressing the psychological contract theory, the research explores how LLMs can aid in drafting manuals that articulate implicit employer-employee expectations within the unique context of small businesses. The study involves a comprehensive content analysis of an LLM-generated manual, evaluating its legal compliance, operational relevance, and alignment with the restaurant's culture. Results highlight LLMs' potential in addressing resource and expertise constraints while also underscoring challenges such as ensuring legal accuracy and maintaining the nuances of the psychological …

Dine Green, Be Kind: Local Vs. Chain Restaurants In Sustainability, Brand Attachment, And Pro-Social Behaviors, Md Zaker Hossin, Yeasun K. Chung

ICHRIE Research Reports

The restaurant industry is characterized by excessive waste and resource consumption, and it faces a pressing need to adopt environmental sustainability practices (ESPs). This research aims to explore the sequential relationship from ESPs to brand attachment (BA) to pro-environmental behaviors while examining the enhancing role of locally-owned restaurants in strengthening these relationships. The survey used a scenario-based survey of U.S. diners and collected data about waste reduction, recycling, minimum water usage, energy conservation, brand attachment, restaurant ownership (local/chain), pro-environmental patronage behavior, and pro-environmental stewardship behavior, using a seven-point Likert Scale. This study aims to advance our understanding of the potential …

Tourist Behaviors When Dining – Part Two, Joel Reynolds, Mary Jo Dolasinski, Chris Roberts

ICHRIE Research Reports

This series of three reports was developed to discuss tourist behaviors in three key areas of the hospitality industry: lodging, dining, and activities and events. A primary purpose was to provide insights from the user’s perspective, as the majority of content comes from the provider’s point of view. One paper focused on tourist’s behaviors in lodging and another focused on tourist’s behaviors in activities and events. This paper focused on tourist’s dining behaviors. The goal was to provide valuable insights to assist practitioners in better understanding tourist’s behaviors and to develop strategies to provide the best experience possible.

Do All Angry Customers Complain?, Hyounae (Kelly) Min, Hyun Jeong Kim

ICHRIE Research Reports

Customer complaints can shed light on organizations’ key performance practices, providing useful information for organizations to learn from their mistakes Since customer complaints should be regarded as a learning opportunity, it is important to identify what drives customer complaints. Through experimental designs using a failed service in the restaurant, we investigated whether all angry customers complain to the service provider and if not, what prevents them from raising their voice. Results showed that customers who felt powerful complained about a service failure as soon as they were angry; on the other hand, customers who felt powerless were not comfortable making …

Do Part-Time Employees Matter In The Restaurant Industry?, Jangwoo Jo, Hyun-Woo Joung

ICHRIE Research Reports

There has been a substantial increase of non-standard work arrangements such as part-time, contingent, and temporary work in the restaurant industry. According to the National Restaurant Association, the overall turnover rate in the restaurant industry was 72.9% in 2016 and this rate has been increasing since 2010. The findings clearly indicated that part-time employees were less satisfied with their current job situations as compared to their counterparts. This study also found that none of the predictors of employee turnover intention in the part-time employee group had any impact on lowering turnover intention, implying that the high turnover intention of part-time …

How Clean Is The Food We Eat From Street Vendors In Orlando, Florida?, Bendegul Okumus, Sevil Sonmez

ICHRIE Research Reports

Convenience, low cost, and opportunities to experience unique flavors have led to an increase in street food consumption worldwide. There are approximately 117,000 food trucks in the U.S., representing approximately $857 million in sales annually. Some of these food trucks are unlicensed and some truck vendors are unwilling to comply with requirements for food preparation, permits, parking, and inspection processes. Data were collected from food trucks in Orlando, Florida in order to have a clear understanding of risk factors. Food samples were collected from food trucks and analyzed for microbiological contamination. To investigate possible safety risks, 30 different samples were …

The Role Of Fairness, Job Satisfaction, And Co-Worker Cohesiveness In Influencing The Desire For Unionization Among Polish Cooks, Piotr Zientara, Anna Zamojska, Monika Bak

ICHRIE Research Reports

Hotel work is characterized by long and unsocial shifts, and many hotel employees feel tired, treated unfairly, and dissatisfied with their jobs. There is a high incidence of part-time and temporary employment that translates into low pay, job insecurity, and limited access to training. Hotels in some countries – notably, Poland – are practically without collective representation leaving hotel workers with a weak bargaining position. This study aimed to find out whether hotel employees might be interested in unionization and whether, in the absence of unions in the workplace, staff can count on their co-workers for support and, whether this …

Alternative Options To Resolve Disputes In Franchised Restaurants, Siti Nurhayatun Khairatun

ICHRIE Research Reports

The number of lawsuits filed by aggrieved parties in franchising contracts indicates that conflicts are not always preventable. This report presents findings from data analyzed from New York State court records arising from franchising contracts from the year 1956 to 2016. Acknowledging the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in mitigating the tension in franchisor-franchisee relationship, this Research Report recommends that franchising regulations should consider the mandatory inclusion of ADR clauses in franchising contracts. This move will provide a fair balance between the power of the franchisor and the interests of the franchisees.

Decreasing Food Waste Through Increased Awareness At A University’S Dining Facilities, Scott Taylor, Jr., Thomas Pratt

ICHRIE Research Reports

Purpose: The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a semester-long anti-food waste campaign regarding university student diners’ food waste behaviors.

Originality/Value: Food waste and specifically post-consumer food waste has become one of the most critical concerns in recent years. Post-consumer food waste has also become a major concern and area of interest on U.S. college and university campuses, as numerous administrators have started considering the impact of waste within their dining operations. However, there have been limited examples of how to successfully cut down on food waste that is produced by students. Therefore, this study offers insight …