October 13, 2021 New data from the U.S. National Restaurant Association has shown how the delta COVID-19 variant drove up the demand for outdoor dining. In a September 2021 survey fielded by the Association, 78 per cent of operators said their restaurant experienced a decline in customer demand for indoor on-premises dining in recent weeks, as a result of ...Read more about this post
October 8, 2021 Several key lifelines emerged for restaurants and other foodservice operations during the worst of the pandemic, from online ordering to curbside pickup and delivery and contactless payments. Another prominent trend was recognition of the importance of loyalty programs. Loyalty programs not only create a lasting connection between patrons and a restaurant and/or brand, but they also ...Read more about this post
October 1, 2021 A new report from the National Restaurant Association suggests that the effects of the pandemic on US restaurants are far from over. According to new data, 78 per cent of US restaurants reported a decline in customer demand for indoor dining in recent weeks due to the rise of delta variant COVID-19 cases. In addition, 63 per ...Read more about this post
September 28, 2021 Aside from water, coffee and tea are the most-consumed beverages in Canada. With the market constantly changing and today’s consumers looking for certain things when selecting a beverage, a new report has assessed ongoing tea and coffee trends across the country. A collaboration between Technomic, Restaurants Canada, the Coffee & Tea Association of Canada, and the ...Read more about this post
September 13, 2021 Canadians are looking forward to returning to restaurants as long as safety measures are in place finds the 2021 Discerning Diner Report from Angus Reid and Restaurants Canada. In particular, 89 per cent of Canadians are looking forward to eating out with friends and family, with 64 per cent going so far as to say ...Read more about this post
September 8, 2021 Restaurant customers want to use multiple ordering and purchasing options and restaurants must respond if they are to capture more business, finds a new report from Paytronix. The Delivering on Restaurant Rewards: The Value of Multichannel Ordering Options report from Paytronix and PYMNTS also recommends that restaurants should reimagine their loyalty engagement strategies and expand the ...Read more about this post
September 3, 2021 By Mo Chaar Closures and restrictions during the pandemic left many restaurants in dire straits in 2020 as they fought to retain customers and reach new audiences. In many cities, the fact that offering takeout and delivery was the only means of service forced restaurants to pivot quickly and develop new and creative ways to generate ...Read more about this post
August 30, 2021 Menu prices at restaurants in Canada were 3.1 per cent higher in July 2021 than they were a year ago, reports Restaurants Canada. This represents the largest increase since January 2019, and is over three times the magnitude of the rise in food prices at grocery stores, which climbed by 1.0 per cent. Since January 2019, menu ...Read more about this post
August 20, 2021 By Peter Dougherty This time last year, the future of the Canadian hospitality business — and hospitality in general — seemed unsure. Fortunately, things have changed. The hospitality industry is re-emerging to serve Canadians who are excited to be back at their favourite restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. But we’re not out of the woods yet. ...Read more about this post
August 6, 2021 Recent data from The NPD Group has found that the Canadian restaurant count fell by 5,000 during 2020. Before the pandemic, there had been around 66,000 Canadian restaurant units since 2016. Then, 2020 happened. The NPD Group data reports the industry lost 5,000 units, a decline of eight per cent, last year. Independent restaurants lost 3,000 units, ...Read more about this post
August 4, 2021 Canadian grocery and food prices are slowly but surely rising in recent times, and one expert cites not just the pandemic but rising production costs and the toll of climate change as reasons why. “For the longest time, the last 12 months or so, we were able to import our way out of food inflation or ...Read more about this post
July 16, 2021 By Sylvain Charlebois and Poppy Nicolette Riddle Tipping is a cultural practice strongly supported in Canada, with most patrons feeling good about their experiences. However, tips can have hidden consequences for those working in foodservice. With staff recruitment a problem as the easing of pandemic guidelines are allowing restaurants to reopen, our research suggests it may be ...Read more about this post
July 5, 2021 By Mo Chaar The restaurant industry is an ever-changing technological landscape. The pandemic has shifted guest expectations and restaurants are now required to be tech-savvy and offer online ordering, pay-at-the-table functions, third-party delivery, and more. However, with restaurants already struggling in the current climate, most businesses don’t have the financial resources to invest in expensive restaurant ...Read more about this post
July 1, 2021 Canadians largely recognize that tipping is becoming increasingly important for the foodservice and hospitality industry amid the devastating impacts of COVID-19. However, there are some signs that attitudes may be changing. Foodservice and hospitality has always relied on tipping to a significant extent. The pandemic, though, is causing something of a reevaluation of how the industry ...Read more about this post
June 21, 2021 Online grocery shopping has seen increased uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic but it appears that has mainly been as a supplementary option alongside in-store shopping, rather than a replacement for it. More than half (53 per cent) of Canadians are now doing some of their grocery shopping online, while an additional 30 per cent say they ...Read more about this post
