July 26, 2024 By John Shapiro
On the subject of tipping, there are passionate arguments to be made on both sides of the fence. Tipping has always been a topic for debate, but it becomes even more volatile when Canadians are dealing with consistent pressures on their wallet. In a continuously evolving industry and society, dealing with interest rates, ...Read more about this post
July 26, 2024 The foodservice landscape has seen so much change in recent years, and many operators are looking to connect with their customer base to foster loyalty and keep building that bottom line. With pet ownership numbers up since the pandemic, the demand for pet-friendly patios has also seen an increase.
Studies show that Yelp searches for businesses ...Read more about this post
May 16, 2024 By Mo Chaar
In today’s economy, Canadians are cutting back on extraneous spending wherever they can to cope with a higher cost of living, and less than 30% of Canadians are satisfied with their recent restaurant experiences. A new consumer survey of Canadians’ dining attitudes and motivations revealed that a whopping 82 per cent of diners ...Read more about this post
May 10, 2024 QSRs are finding themselves with more competition than ever before, as many grocery and convenience stores have started offering hot and cold meal options. As they work to come out on top, they’re focusing on what they can deliver for higher value, increased loyalty, and better service, and personalization may be the answer.
Last year, Wendy’s ...Read more about this post
April 25, 2024 As inflation continues, many restaurateurs are looking for new ways to engage guests and keep them coming back. It turns out that while technology, eatertainment, and great marketing attract customers, good old-fashioned customer service is what earns their loyalty. The number of guests who visit a restaurant weekly has dropped from 38 per cent to ...Read more about this post
April 15, 2024 By Brittain Brown
There’s been a noticeable change in consumer habits across Canada in the post-pandemic landscape. Fueled by a rise in ghost kitchens, third-party delivery apps, and surging inflation impacting supply chains, we’ve seen the emergence of a new consumer archetype: the “hermit consumer,” marked by those who prioritize comfort and convenience by ordering in, ...Read more about this post
March 7, 2024 Even as dine-in traffic continues to pick up, demand remains high for off-premise dining. From delivery to drive-thru, studies show that 43 per cent of full-service restaurants accounted for more off-premise business in 2023 than five years ago, and 26 per cent of operators plan to add more options to their off-premise offerings this year.
With ...Read more about this post
February 20, 2024 As we move through the first quarter of 2024, looking back to the final quarter of last year can give us some insight into restaurant success, consumer spending, and what’s trending this year. How did restaurants do towards the end of last year and what can we expect to see this year?
While traffic dipped through ...Read more about this post
February 14, 2024 By Brittain Brown
Restaurants are grappling with a unique set of challenges – the confluence of inflation, winter weather, and the post-holiday lull creates a perfect storm, leaving many establishments feeling the financial pinch. Amidst the struggles, this is a chance for restaurateurs to think outside the box and find innovative ways to attract customers by ...Read more about this post
February 1, 2024 By Vince Sgabellone
Economists have projected a slowdown in the Canadian economy for several quarters now. Similarly, Canadian consumers have reported for over a year that they plan to cut back on their spending and studies show they have done just that. For the year ending June 2023, consumer spending across the 11 retail categories declined ...Read more about this post
December 20, 2023 As inflation continues into next year, consumers will continue to shift their spending habits, adjusting how they use their dollars for dining. According to Canada’s Food Price Report, 80.3 per cent of Canadians are expecting food prices to continue to rise. A recent study conducted by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in partnership ...Read more about this post
November 27, 2023 By Mo Chaar
The holidays are looking a little different this year: Canadians are feeling the affordability crunch, and a recent holiday gift card survey revealed that inflation is affecting nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of consumer holiday spending. With the holiday season nearly in full swing and with one-third of restaurants in Canada operating at ...Read more about this post
November 21, 2023 By Marissa Tekirian
We all know that foodservice is a fast-paced world with daily pressures that can make it hard to focus time and resources on making business better. Operators know the more seamless the service, the more satisfied the guest – and the more successful the business. With expectations for hygiene, sustainability, and guest experience higher now ...Read more about this post
November 16, 2023 As the hustle and bustle of the season picks up, date nights can become tough for many couples to fit into their busy schedules. Make it easy for your guests to visit and enjoy date nights at your restaurant this season.
There are a few things to keep in mind when looking to turn your restaurant ...Read more about this post
November 13, 2023 Consumer habits come and go, and as work schedules remain flexible and consumers are cost-conscious, early dining seems to be a trend that’s picking up speed. Although many QSRs are finding success with late-night dining, adding this daypart to their offerings, there has also been significant recent growth in earlier visits. With reservations for five ...Read more about this post
