Illinois Restaurant Association Joins 40+ State Restaurant Associations, the National Restaurant Association and Council of State Restaurant Associations in Payments RevolutionPRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Illinois Restaurant Association has selected Heartland Payment Systems®, one of the nation’s largest payments processors, as its exclusive endorsed provider of card processing, gift marketing, tip management and check management solutions. Heartland’s payroll services will be added to the endorsed offering effective June 7, 2010. This integrated suite of solutions is a product of the first-ever unified payments processing platform for the restaurant industry.
“We look forward to working with the IRA and its member restaurants.”
“Partnering with Heartland provides our members access to the most advanced payments technology in the industry, technology that can help them save time and money in the management of key business services,” said Sheila O'Grady, president at the Illinois Restaurant Association. “Through its advocacy and education initiatives, it’s clear Heartland has the best interests of restaurateurs — and the restaurant industry — at heart.”
Bob Carr, chairman and chief executive officer at Heartland, added, “At Heartland, we’re on a mission with the IRA and other restaurant associations to educate and empower operators so they can improve their bottom lines and their businesses. Restaurateurs deserve fair-deal, best-in-class business solutions and support — and that’s exactly what we give them.”
Earlier this year, Heartland, the National Restaurant Association, the Council of State Restaurant Associations and many state restaurant associations launched Full Course Business SolutionsSM, a revolutionary suite of tools and resources designed to help restaurateurs enhance their operations and maximize their profitability. Illinois is the 41st state restaurant association to join this alliance.
“Earning our partnership with the Illinois Restaurant Association is a significant milestone as Heartland continues to expand and deepen our relationships with state restaurant associations nationwide,” said Dennis Carpenter, director of association alliances at Heartland. “We look forward to working with the IRA and its member restaurants.”
To learn more about Full Course, visit GoFullCourse.com.
About Heartland Payment Systems
Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. (NYSE:HPY), the fifth largest payments processor in the United States, delivers credit/debit/prepaid card processing, gift marketing and loyalty programs, payroll,check management and business solutions to more than 250,000 business locations nationwide. Heartland is the founding supporter of The Merchant Bill of Rights, a public advocacy initiative that educates merchants about fair credit and debit card processing practices. For more information, please visit HeartlandPaymentSystems.com, MerchantBillOfRights.org, CostOfABurger.com andE3secure.com.
About The Illinois Restaurant Association
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The foodservice industry in Illinois produces $18.3 Billion in annual sales and is the largest private sector employer in the State with 510,000 jobs. Together with the Educational Foundation, the IRA strives to build Illinois' hospitality workforce through career exploration and development programs, scholarships and image enhancement.
