Consumers looking for sustainability claims on packaging

A new report from Cargill suggests that consumers are being increasingly influenced by sustainability claims on food packaging. The recent global Fatitudes survey found that 55 per cent of consumers said they are more likely to purchase a packaged food item if it includes a sustainability claim, a four-point jump since the company last fielded […]

Diners turning away from fried foods

Restaurant diners are increasingly turning their noses up at fried foods, according to a new industry report. Black Box Intelligence’s latest pulse report says that guest sentiment for fried foods has declined since the start of the pandemic at both limited- and full-service restaurants. The greatest decline in fried food’s appeal to diners was in […]

The rising importance of multiplatform operations

The increasing prominence and profitability of off-premises dining has been a prominent accelerated shift throughout the pandemic. Now and moving forward, restaurants must realize that appealing to the multiplatform customer is vital for survival and success. Financial services company Rabobank estimates that even coming into COVID-19, off-premises sales had increased nearly four times faster than […]

Meal kits: are they a passing fad or here to stay?

Ready-to-make meal kits have surged in popularity during the pandemic with indoor dining off the table for so much of the last two years. The question now is whether they will endure. A new Canadian study by Empathy Inc. in partnership with Vividata suggests that, while the appeal of these kits varies based on demographic, […]

The state of play for Canadian foodservice at the end of 2021

As we close out 2021 and approach another new year for Canadian foodservice, Lightspeed’s State of the Hospitality Industry report has shone some light on the current sentiments from restaurant operators and guests. Chief among the conclusions of the report, based on a wide survey of operators and customers in Canada and beyond, was that […]

2021 Canadian restaurant online ordering trends

After a challenging couple of years, restaurateurs have learned how to adapt to keep their doors open and their businesses thriving. The rise of off-premise dining and third-party delivery point to online ordering as a key component of engaging today’s customers with the convenient, fulfilling experiences they crave.  A new report by DoorDash, 2021 Restaurant […]

Restaurant gift cards set to be a popular stocking-filler

Customers have shown their loyalty to and support of local restaurants throughout the difficult circumstances of the pandemic, and that looks set to continue this holiday period. The U.S. National Restaurant Association estimates that nearly two-thirds of consumers hope to receive restaurant gift cards for presents this winter. New research from the NRA found that 62 […]

Many more Canadians saying no to meat during pandemic

Sustainability is a growing concern for Canadian consumers, and one way that is manifesting itself is through an increasing desire to steer clear of meat — or at least to have the choice to do so. A new survey from Impossible Foods conducted by members of the Angus Reid Forum, found that one-quarter (24 per […]

Delivery aggregators & the costs of convenience

A new report has shed light on the extended effects of the pandemic on food delivery aggregators and third-party delivery apps. The inaugural The Digital Divide, Aggregators: The Cost Of Convenience, a collaborative PYMNTS and Paytronix report, examines the spending habits of restaurant customers in the U.S. It found that many consumers came to rely […]