Opportunities for growth in new tablecloth business in the casual-dining sector are shrinking as many new restaurants opt for bare tables as distinctive image-builders for their hospitality business. The cloth napkin is their go-to textile for creating ambiance and promoting sustainability. It covers only a small portion of an upscale wooden tabletop—thus keeping patrons’ attention on the table’s aesthetic value—and it’s classier than a paper equivalent. While this doesn’t maximize linen service revenue, it reflects our industry’s willingness to support restaurants with the textile products they prefer.

Whatever restaurants collect per meal, from triple-digit dollars for steak and seafood to ...