Restaurants

A wide range of food and beverage establishments that purchase ingredients and supplies from Sysco.

CCI Score

5.63

-0.01% April 18

Latest Event

Food & Beverage PAC Contributions Fuel Corporate Political Influence

An OpenSecrets report reveals that Food & Beverage PACs, which encompass restaurants, contributed over $2.8M during the 2023-2024 cycle. This level of political spending raises concerns over corporate complicity in fueling authoritarian influences through undisclosed and influential political donations.

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OBJECTOR

Restaurants is currently rated as an Objector.

0 to +9 CCI Score

These companies deliberately avoid direct involvement with authoritarian practices. While they do not actively challenge oppressive regimes, they maintain a neutral stance to ensure they are not complicit in supporting such systems.

Latest Events

FEB

06

2025

Food & Beverage PAC Contributions Fuel Corporate Political Influence
-39.22

An OpenSecrets report reveals that Food & Beverage PACs, which encompass restaurants, contributed over $2.8M during the 2023-2024 cycle. This level of political spending raises concerns over corporate complicity in fueling authoritarian influences through undisclosed and influential political donations.
-40

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

OpenSecrets data indicates that Food & Beverage PACs—representative of the restaurant industry—directed over $2.8M in contributions to various political candidates in the 2023-2024 cycle. Such financial influence can be seen as a mechanism to sway policy in favor of corporate interests, potentially undermining democratic processes and facilitating authoritarian practices.

Food & Beverage PACs contributions to candidates, 2023-2024 • OpenSecrets
FEB

06

2025

Restaurants & Drinking Establishments PACs Report Zero Political Contributions
78.45

A report from OpenSecrets reveals that Restaurants & drinking establishments PACs contributed $0 to federal candidates in 2024. This absence of political donations is viewed positively from an anti-fascist perspective as it minimizes corporate financial influence in politics, potentially reducing support for authoritarian policies.
+80

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

The data indicates that Restaurants & drinking establishments PACs contributed $0 in 2024, signaling a lack of financial support for political candidates. From an anti-fascist and anti-authoritarian lens, avoiding the use of corporate funds to potentially influence the political process is a positive factor. However, the absence may also suggest a limited engagement in the democratic process, which is a nuance worth noting.

Restaurants & drinking establishments PACs contributions to candidates, 2023-2024
OCT

28

2024

Declining Political Contributions in the Food & Beverage Sector
47.70

An analysis reveals a significant drop in political donations among major food and beverage companies, indicating a reduced financial engagement in political processes that could otherwise support authoritarian policies. This trend is relevant for companies in the food sector, including Restaurants, as it reflects a distancing from politically motivated expenditures that may exacerbate fascist influences.
+50

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

The article details a significant decline in political donations from major food and beverage companies. From an anti-fascist perspective, reducing contributions to political entities potentially linked to authoritarian agendas is seen as a positive move. For Restaurants, which are part of the broader food sector, this decline suggests a reduced involvement in political lobbying that might otherwise abet authoritarian practices.

Political donations from 15 of the largest US food and beverage makers plunge
AUG

10

2023

Exploitation in Restaurant Labor Practices
-33.77

A forum discussion on Elite Trader highlights low wages for prep work and delivery drivers in restaurant operations, raising concerns about exploitative labor practices that undermine worker rights.
-40

Labor Relations and Human Rights Practices

March 19

The discussion indicates that restaurants, along with their suppliers, keep wages low for prep work and delivery drivers, and refrain from rehiring during low volume periods. This practice signals a disregard for fair labor rights and worker security, contributing to systemic exploitation that aligns with broader authoritarian economic practices.

Sysco and similar restaurant suppliers.
OCT

16

2020

Fast Food Chains’ Political Donations Raise Democracy Concerns
-19.12

An article from LAist reveals that fast food chains, as part of the broader restaurant industry, channel significant political contributions through PACs and dark money, which may enable the support of authoritarian or far‑right agendas.
-30

Political Contributions and Lobbying Efforts

March 19

The article provides detailed evidence that fast food chains engage heavily in political donation practices, including the use of dark money and PAC contributions. These practices can indirectly support candidates with authoritarian tendencies, undermining democratic accountability and transparency. This behavior aligns with authoritarian-supporting activities, resulting in a negative score in the Public and Political Behavior category.

How Is Your Favorite Chain Spending Its Political Bucks?
JAN

01

1976

Restaurant PAC Political Contributions
-0.29

The Restaurant PAC pools contributions from restaurateurs to support pro-industry and pro-business candidates, reflecting the political engagement of the restaurant industry in shaping public policy. This activity is seen as contributing to a political climate that may undermine labor rights and democratic accountability.
-40

Public and Political Behavior

March 19

The Restaurant PAC, linked to the National Restaurant Association, consolidates funds from the restaurant industry to support candidates with pro-business stances. From a left-leaning perspective, this political contribution framework bolsters policies that favor corporate interests over worker rights and democratic values, thereby reflecting a degree of complicity in fostering authoritarian tendencies.

Restaurant PAC