Happy Holidays!
The holidays are upon us, and for many of us, that means gathering around the table with friends and family. Holiday get-togethers were something most of us took for granted before the pandemic, but after a couple of years of Facetime cheer, I’m sure everyone is as eager as I am to sit at the table together and enjoy a great meal, whether it’s the traditional Christmas Eve seven fishes, turkey, rack of lamb, brisket, gumbo, latkes, or a big batch of holiday cookies and pies.
If you’re hitting the road, I recommend starting early. The weather reports are filled with storm warnings, and, as of this writing, 37 states are under weather alerts—airports are already a mess—so it’s a good idea to keep your eyes on the headlines. Here in New York, the airports and roads are absolutely jammed with holiday travelers.
Speaking of food, we just released our inaugural Food & Beverage Survey. I’m happy to say that many industry leaders are bullish about 2023. More than two-thirds said they expect increased revenue next year, and 64% have a positive or very positive outlook. That’s despite 69% of leaders anticipating rising inflation and commodity costs.
There’s a reason: Apparently, many companies have prioritized strategy and tightened up their operations, with 72% saying product/service expansion is their top business strategy, and 63% reporting that the pandemic has permanently changed the way they manage their supply chain. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
As 2022 winds down, I’m feeling very optimistic myself. Although middle-market companies are facing a number of market constraints, the economy is still moving forward, and there are many opportunities for growth. With staffing still a challenge for most industries, the future will belong to companies that are able to attract and retain the best talent. Any initiatives you take on that front are likely to bring excellent ROI.
Sunday is Christmas, which is also the last night of Chanukah, and Kwanzaa starts on Monday. In recognition of all the hard work put in by our team in 2022, Marcum’s offices will be closed for the holidays from December 26 through January 2. That’s a first for our firm, but a well-deserved and much-needed respite. Although we’re closed for an extended period, we will be checking emails and voice mails, though our response time may not be as quick as you’re used to. Please understand. Since we’re closed next week, this will be my last post of 2022.
The Weiner family will be celebrating Christmas as we usually do in South Florida, one of the few times a year when all seven of us are together for an extended period. Tracy will do her annual Christmas Eve dinner, hand us all our Christmas pajamas and hopefully Santa will make the Weiner house a stop on his itinerary again this year. I hope you, too, will have time away from work to enjoy this holiday season with the people you love.
To all of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah (again), Happy Kwanzaa, and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all!
See you in 2023!
