Canada foodservice visits and spend improve in fourth quarter 2011 despite economy, reports NPD

Canada foodservice visits and spend improve in fourth quarter despite economy, reports NPDPress release
April 17, 2012

Foodservice around the world posts modest gains

With minimal assist from the economy, Canadians made over 6.6 billion visits to restaurants and other foodservice outlets in 2011, a three per cent increase compared to prior year, reports The NPD Group, a leading market research company. Foodservice spending reached an all-time high of $47.6 billion, a four per cent gain over last year, according to NPD’s CREST®, which continually tracks Canadians’ use of restaurants.

Quick service restaurant (QSR) traffic was one of the pockets of growth that was evident during the fall 2011 quarter, signaling momentum moving into 2012, NPD’s CREST reports. QSR traffic increased by five per cent compared to the fall quarter last year, with many QSR categories (e.g. QSR hamburger) and chains contributing. In addition to QSR visits, growth was spread across all day parts. Supper and lunch posted the best gains on weekends, an indication of rebound for socially-driven visits. The street business – independent restaurants – is coming back, mainly in the casual dining segment.

“Economic conditions in Canada didn’t do much to strengthen the environment for foodservice during the fall period, but as is often the case, foodservice begins to improve prior to any economic recovery,” says Robert Carter, executive director, Canada foodservice. “Some challenges still remain for the country’s foodservice industry, but the hope is that the current positive trend in foodservice visits is a bellwether for better times ahead.”

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