The Missouri Restaurant Association serves as an indispensable resource to the foodservice and hospitality industry by promoting, educating, empowering, and protecting the Missouri restaurant community.
History & Mission
Our History The restaurant trade association movement in America traces its roots to Kansas City. The forerunner of it all was the Kansas City Business Men's Association. In 1916, local operators banded together to resist encroachment on their businesses. They later went on to establish the Missouri and the National Restaurant Associations. Today’s MRA It is that same indomitable spirit that connects the organization as it exists today to the early years of its existence. Our Focus is to serve as an indispensable resource to the foodservice and hospitality industry by promoting, educating, empowering, and protecting the Missouri restaurant community. An effective Government Relations program is one of the most significant services MRA provides for its members. Combining a contract lobbyist with effective grassroots activity, the Association effectively protects the interests of the industry. We serve as ambassadors politically because we believe that we are stronger as an industry when our members are united.
Our Structure Missouri Restaurant Association is a statewide trade association. Presently, it has five active chapters, each with its officers, directors, and operating budget. The state association is governed by a board of directors, including four officers and the presidents of the five affiliated chapters. MRA has two basic categories of Membership:
Regular Membership This membership is for companies and organizations engaged in commercial and institutional food service, as well as foodservice educators, and,
MRA's Membership is diverse and includes all segments of the industry including hotels with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, etc. Members also include traditional restaurants, caterers, hospitals, schools, institutions, clubs, cafeterias and vendors passionate about the continued success of the hospitality industry in Missouri.
