May 22, 2025 | Events | 3 min read

Insights from the Floor: What We Heard at NRA Show 2025

Louis Abate

The Ladle team on the NRA Show Floor

NRA Show 2025 provided an invaluable opportunity to connect directly with hundreds of foodservice operators. A consistent message emerged: teams across the industry are striving to simplify operations while maintaining consistency and compliance.

With both MeazureUp and ComplianceMate in attendance, we showcased how our integrated solutions enhance food safety, streamline site visits, and offer real-time visibility across all locations. From immersive demos to hands-on walkthroughs, conversations at our booths revealed key insights into current challenges and future aspirations of operators.

 

Simpler Solutions That Still Go Deep

What we heard: Restaurant and Foodservice Operators are seeking comprehensive technology solutions that don’t necessitate a complete systems overhaul. They are looking for tools that meet HACCP and compliance requirements while offering flexibility and scalability.

For multi-location operators, the ability to identify trends and receive real-time alerts stood out as a significant advantage.

 

Five Guys in Apple Vision Pro Made It Click

At the ComplianceMate booth, attendees experienced a real-world food safety process through an immersive Apple Vision Pro demo featuring Five Guys. This experience transported them into a live kitchen during the daily “11 AM check,” illustrating how digital tools can enhance everyday workflows.

“It felt like I was standing next to the operator, such a cool experience.”
“That was the first time I’ve used a VR headset like that. I can see that being a great tool for standardizing training at all of our locations.”

The demo effectively conveyed the benefits of real-time monitoring and digital workflows, helping visitors quickly grasp their impact.

 

Paper Checklists Still a Sticking Point

Despite technological advancements, many operators continue to rely on paper-based systems. A common question that came up at both booths was: “Is there an easier way to get off paper?” Many operators we spoke with expressed concern about time to get a solution like this in operation and training users on how to shift away from the way they do things today.

MeazureUp and ComplianceMate offer digital alternatives that are straightforward to adopt and scale. Attendees appreciated the user-friendly nature of these tools, even those less familiar with technology.

 

Trends and Takeaways from the Floor

  • Food traceability remains a priority. The FDA recently announced a 30-month extension to the compliance date for the Food Traceability Rule, moving it from January 2026 to July 2028. This extension provides businesses additional time to coordinate across the supply chain and fully implement the rule’s requirements. Read more about the FDA’s announcement.
  • Tariff-related challenges are impacting international companies, presenting opportunities for U.S.-based partners.
  • Core priorities such as consistency, compliance, and ease of use remain top of mind for many owners and operators.
  • The unification of MeazureUp and ComplianceMate under Ladle garnered significant interest. Everyone we spoke with appreciated the prospect of a single partner handling site inspections, compliance, safety, and and operational excellence.

 

Ready to See It for Yourself?

If you missed our booth or didn’t get a full walkthrough, we’d love to reconnect. Whether your focus is food safety, field assessments, or both, we can demonstrate how our platform supports operators like you.

Another great NRA Show is in the books. We’re already looking forward to next year!

Louis Abate is the Head of Marketing at Ladle, where he leads brand strategy, demand generation, and go-to-market execution across the company’s portfolio of foodservice technology solutions. With over 15 years of experience spanning early- and mid-stage tech startups, Louis brings deep expertise in building scalable marketing programs that drive pipeline, strengthen brand presence, and align tightly with sales. Prior to joining Ladle, Louis led marketing at RevSure.ai, a revenue intelligence platform, where he developed the company’s core messaging framework, scaled inbound programs, and launched its GTM motion. He also held senior roles at Allego and Nasuni, where he consistently delivered triple-digit growth in lead volume, improved funnel conversion, and ran digital campaigns that supported global expansion. Louis’s expertise includes full-funnel demand generation, ABM/ABX, content and brand strategy, SEO/SEM, product marketing, and sales enablement. A practitioner at heart, he actively explores the use of generative AI and marketing automation to improve campaign performance and team efficiency.Louis resides in the Boston area with his wife and three children.

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