Consumer Research

  • Canadian diners are ordering more items off the menu

    February 28, 2023
    According to Technomic’s latest report, the last quarter of 2022 showed diners are ordering more off the menu, even as menu prices saw an increase of about six percent across the board. Only the kids’ menu category saw a decline in menu counts, finishing off the year with numbers down 2.2 percent overall. According to the ...
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  • Foodservice today and tomorrow: looking ahead to a bright future

    February 22, 2023
    We’ve spent a lot of time in recent months looking back at the last few years, analyzing the journey, but now it’s time to look at how far we’ve come and ahead to a bright future. With the continued challenges of persistent inflation and labour shortages, it’s important for restaurateurs to get to know their ...
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  • Why you should respond to online reviews

    February 8, 2023
    By Austin Verner When it comes to reading online reviews, every restaurant should leave no stone unturned. Today, the question for restaurant owners shouldn’t be, “do they find me online?” but rather, “what do they find when they find me?” Online review management has become integral to running a successful restaurant, and restaurants should evaluate how responding ...
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  • Valentine’s Day promos your guests will love

    February 2, 2023
    Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and since it’s the second most popular day to dine out, offering promos your guests will love is a win-win. According to a recent study by OpenTable, 72 per cent of those celebrating want to splurge at local restaurants, and are planning to spend over $41 per person, ...
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  • How menus are addressing diner demand for healthier choices

    January 31, 2023
    Diners continue to look for healthier alternatives as they visit restaurants, and menus are evolving to meet that growing demand. Including healthier choices and trendy dishes is just the start, though. It’s not just about menu features, it’s also about the language you use. Trends come and go, and language changes to reflect what customers are ...
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  • Plating your food the way customers want to see it

    January 24, 2023
    What factors go into planning your plating? Do you consider what customers might find appealing or what your presentation says about your restaurant? Studies show that 18 per cent of diners think that when food looks better, it tastes better. Making your plating a priority means taking several factors into consideration.   The plates Consider the size of ...
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  • Plant-based dishes appeal to a broad array of diners

    January 3, 2023
    In recent years, with more consumers adopting vegan and vegetarian diets, plant-based dishes have steadily gained menu real estate. However, it looks like the increased demand comes from a general shift towards healthy eating, rather than from vegans or vegetarians. RELATED: Consumers say plant-based diets are here to stay Recently, 29 per cent of consumers said that ...
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  • How loyalty can help offset the effects of inflation

    December 15, 2022
    In today’s economy, loyalty is more important than ever. As prices continue to rise and people watch their discretionary spending, you want your restaurant to be their destination of choice. As a restaurateur, knowing your customer is a fundamental factor for success. The better you get to know them, the easier it will be to deliver ...
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  • OpenTable lists Canada’s most beloved restaurants for 2022

    December 7, 2022
    Canadian eateries receive some well-deserved recognition from OpenTable in the recently-released list of the Top 100 Most Beloved Restaurants in Canada for 2022. The list features restaurants offering experiences of all types, from fine dining to budget-friendly, highlighting 48 restaurants in Ontario, 23 in Alberta,18 in British Columbia, nine in Quebec, and one in New Brunswick.  These ...
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  • ‘Tis the season for selling gift cards

    December 6, 2022
    The season for gift-giving has arrived, and as the possibility of a recession looms, gift cards could be just what your restaurant needs to help your bottom line through the holidays. Gift cards encourage repeat visits from your customers and help you to acquire new customers. With 80 per cent of consumers planning to purchase gift ...
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  • Canadian consumers have a taste for sweet treats

    November 14, 2022
    As consumer habits continue to shift and off-premise dining remains a popular option, desserts and sweet treats are making their way onto more and more takeout orders. According to the 2022 Online Ordering Trends report from Restaurants Canada, this is an ongoing trend, with baked goods taking top spot in the delivery and pickup category for ...
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  • Consumers still want to dine out, even amid recession concerns

    November 7, 2022
    As the holidays approach and so does the possibility of a recession, there are mixed reviews on predicted restaurant traffic.   Dining in restaurants is on the decline for people with lower incomes. In this year’s second quarter, one of four diners bringing in less than $45,000 per year didn’t eat out at all. That being ...
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  • Food photography is a crucial part of your menu

    October 28, 2022
    Is your food photography translating to sales for your restaurant? 82 per cent of people say they would order a dish based on its photo, so appealing photos can mean more profits. In fact, restaurants switching from a text-based online menu to a photo-based menu reported increased conversion rates of 25 per cent. Whether you’re using ...
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  • How strategic labelling can increase your plant-based sales

    October 26, 2022
    By Makayla Dewit Imagine that you sit down at a restaurant, examine the menu, and see these two choices listed: low-fat vegan pasta and lemon-pesto rotini with fried capers. Which sounds more appetizing to you? It is almost certainly the second one. This example highlights the importance of thoughtfully labelling food and menu items to make them ...
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  • Sustainability matters to today’s Canadian consumers

    October 18, 2022
    Sustainability is a hot topic for Canadians and it is becoming increasingly important to consumers, with 45 per cent looking to increase their sustainable behaviour. Recently, consumers were asked to rate the importance of restaurants making sustainable choices. Results were steady across the board, with QSRs (at 57 per cent), fast casuals (at 56 per cent), ...
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