NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) and its chair, Greg Reggio, co-owner of Taste Buds Management in New Orleans (parent company of Zea Rotisserie & Bar and Semolina), announced last week Associate Members of the Year Paul, Scott and Steven Ballard of Ballard Brands. The honorees were recognized at the LRA Awards Reception at Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans.
The Associate Member of the Year award recognizes a restaurant industry supplier who exemplifies dedication to the LRA’s mission.
Ballard Brands, the fast casual dining leader, was formed in 2012 by brothers Paul, Scott and Steve Ballard. The company includes five restaurant brands that collectively total nearly 150 locations and growing. Ballard Brands also operates wholesale brand New Orleans Roast, which produces coffee for that brand and PJ’s Coffee. New Orleans Roast offers premium coffee, state-of-the-art equipment and marketing support to restaurants, hotels and foodservice institutions all over Louisiana, company reps said.
Ballard Brands’ hard work and success also led to the honor of the Outstanding Family Enterprise Award from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business in 2017.
The Ballards are very involved in the community, both in the New Orleans area and in St. Tammany Parish where they all reside with their families. As LRA member suppliers, they are among the first to volunteer their services wherever needed, while offering exemplary products, company reps said.
Additional awards announced included Restaurateur of the Year, Tommy Cvitanovich of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant; Hall of Fame Inductees, Leah Chase of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans, Warren Leruth of LeRuth’s and Don Weems of Waterfront Grill; and Advocate of the Year, Senator Conrad Appel.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association is one of the largest business organizations in the state, representing restaurant operations and related businesses. The restaurant industry in Louisiana is one the state’s largest private employers, providing jobs to 207,700 residents. Restaurants in Louisiana are expected to generate sales of $8.9 billion in 2017.
