Kentucky-based national chain wins National Foodservice Beef Backer Award

Kentucky Cattlemen's Association

Texas Roadhouse, based in Louisville, earned a National Beef Backer Award in the "Chain Restaurant" category during The Beef Checkoff Program at the annual Cattle Industry Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The Beef Backer Awards recognize chain and independent restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing beef.

Other national winners included Uncle Ed’s Steakhouse (Grand Island, Nebr.) in the “Independent Restaurant” category and Barclay Prime (Philadelphia, Pa.) as the “Innovator of the Year.”

Texas Roadhouse opened its doors in 1993. In just 16 years, the company has grown to more than 330 locations in 46 states. Company President and CEO G.J. Hart said, “Texas Roadhouse prides itself on our high-quality beef and expert preparation. We use 100 percent U.S. beef, and all steaks are cut in-house daily. This commitment to quality is the backbone of our company and is what our guests have come to expect.”

“We are so proud of our meat cutters and admire their dedication to our standards of excellence," Hart said. "In fact, we hold an annual Texas Roadhouse Meat Cutting Challenge—there are several rounds of competition, and one winner takes home a grand prize of $20,000 and the title of Meat Cutter of the Year.”

To better educate consumers and to promote beef, Texas Roadhouse has partnered with the Kentucky State Beef Council for the past two years to present the Texas Roadhouse Roadshow at the Kentucky State Fair on the Kentucky Beef Producers’ Gourmet Garden Stage. More than 600,000 fairgoers have the opportunity to learn how to cut their own steaks from several of Texas Roadhouse’s talented meat cutters—and of course, enjoy the beef!

“According to industry reports, more than 130 million individuals patronized America’s restaurants, daily, in 2009.  That’s one-third of the population. Daily. There is no way to overstate the influence of foodservice professionals. Their culinary skills ignite consumer passion for our product, and their creativity keeps beef at the forefront of eating trends,” said California cattleman Bill Jackson, chairman of the Joint Foodservice Committee. “Today, we are pleased to honor three restaurants for their ongoing commitment to serve beef at its best—every meal, every day.”

Entries for the National Beef Backer Awards program originate at the state level.  Texas Roadhouse won top honors in the Kentucky Beef Council’s Beef Backer contest before being judged winner in the national contest.

The Beef Checkoff Program was established as part of the 1985 Farm Bill.  The checkoff assesses $1 per head on the sale of live domestic and imported cattle, in addition to a comparable assessment on imported beef and beef products.  States retain up to 50 cents on the dollar and forward the other 50 cents per head to the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board, which administers the national checkoff program, subject to USDA approval.