Founded in 1933, the Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA) is the leading trade organization for the state’s dynamic foodservice industry, which is a driving force for the Colorado economy. Our sole purpose is to protect restaurant businesses and help them thrive. The CRA is run by restaurateurs, for restaurants.
The Colorado Restaurant Foundation (CRF) was established in 1987. As the philanthropic foundation of the CRA, the CRF’s mission of service is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s workforce training and education, career development, and the overall well-being of the industry and its employees.
Advocacy
The 2023 Colorado State General Assembly session ran from January 9 to May 8. Click below to learn about the CRA’s legislative accomplishments this year.
Compliance Center Resources
Ever-changing laws – at both federal and state levels – can hurt your business if you don’t understand the laws or know how to comply. Click below to find tools and templates that you can use to bring your business into compliance.
CRF Health & Wellness Resource Center
The Colorado Restaurant Foundation has compiled industry-specific resources to help local workers further their mental, physical, and financial health and wellness. Click below for hotlines, affordable healthcare providers, community groups, podcasts, and more!
About Colorado’s Restaurant Industry
We are proud to serve as the representative voice for Colorado’s dynamic restaurant industry. Imbued with tradition and bursting with innovation, foodservice is a leading driver of Colorado’s economy.
The Colorado hospitality industry at-a-glance:
- 12,400+ eating and drinking locations in Colorado
- 69% percent of Colorado restaurants — and 89% of our dues-paying members – are independently owned and operated.
- Restaurants accounted for 10 percent of the state’s workforce prior to the pandemic.
- Annually, restaurants drive $14+ billion in retail sales and $323 million in state sales tax revenue to the Colorado economy.
