This week in retail: The James Beard Awards, NRF Protect, and National Outlet Mall Day

We’re glad you made it back from your pool party. Now that we’re out of earnings season—although isn’t it kind of always earnings season?—we’re going to start with a heads-up on something that’s happening in the restaurant world.

In events: Today, The James Beard Foundation is hosting its annual awards ceremony, where it honors the best chefs in the industry across several culinary disciplines. Separately, the foundation is taking on a new job: investigating the very chefs it honors.

• In 2022, it established an ethics committee and a tip line to ensure it did not honor chefs who didn’t meet the organization’s standards. The industry has faced widespread allegations of inequality, a lack of diversity, and workplace abuse.

Starting today and continuing through Wednesday, the National Retail Federation will host its NRF Protect event in Grapevine, Texas. Industry experts will discuss new threats to retail security and how to fight organized retail crime—a hot-button issue at the moment.

• Speakers include Jodie Kautt, Target’s VP of cybersecurity; Rob Holm, director of global security at McDonald’s; and Peter Chie, Bloomingdale’s operating VP of asset protection and risk management.

In sales: Outlet malls are already known for their cheaper prices, but Simon Property Group—one of the country’s largest operators—will present its second annual National Outlet Shopping Day on June 10 and 11, when top retailers will offer even bigger deals.

• This year, the event will feature an omnichannel experience, with live-streamed events and offers on Simon’s e-commerce platform.

Participating brands include Aéropostale Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, Crocs, J.Crew Factory, and Kate Spade New York.