What’s new in restaurant real estate?
October 3, 2023
As the foodservice industry continues on its road to recovery, many restaurants and chains are looking at expanding, but what are the possible pitfalls in today’s restaurant real estate? Experts are seeing a significant rise in real estate demand, many looking for multiple drive-thru lanes as part of their expansion. According to Emily Durham, senior vice ...Read more about this postThe drive-thru evolution
September 15, 2023
As takeout and off premise dining traffic remains high long after the pandemic, many QSRs are looking to improve their drive-thru service to decrease wait times and boost efficiency. 39 per cent of QSRs report bumper to bumper traffic in the drive-thru, causing longer lines and customer back-up. During the pandemic, when takeout was the only ...Read more about this postGet your restaurant set up for catering
September 13, 2023
Just as the holiday season approaches, restaurants are seeing an uptick in catering requests from their customers. Although the demand for catering has been recovering steadily since the pandemic, some restaurant chains have seen as much as a 43 per cent increase in this sector over last year. As restaurants get ready to add catering to ...Read more about this postDiners choose pickup over delivery as inflated costs continue
August 25, 2023
In the last few years, off-premise dining has become so popular, but these days, pickup is surpassing delivery for diners. As prices continue to remain high, this shift could be a result of consumers watching their wallets, attempting to save a few dollars by skipping the delivery fees. Because restaurants don’t typically add a charge for ...Read more about this postDeveloping a revenue management strategy for your restaurant
August 24, 2023
With increased costs, supply chain disruption, and labour shortages, making your restaurant as profitable as possible is paramount to your success. Do you have a revenue management strategy that works for your business? Revenue management is a system where you create win-wins for your customers and your business, offering value while protecting your margins. There are ...Read more about this postGetting your loyalty program up to date
August 22, 2023
With the continued inflation and restaurant costs, does your loyalty program still offer value to your customers and make sense for your business? As your customers’ and your restaurant’s needs change and evolve, so, too, should your loyalty program. And while those changes are not always well received initially, it’s important for restaurants to maintain ...Read more about this postUsing social media to grow your restaurant’s profits
August 3, 2023
Social media and food go hand in hand as foodies search for recipes, post pics of their dishes, and connect with like-minded diners globally. Does your marketing plan include a social media strategy? If not, it’s time to get social! These platforms can help you reach an untapped audience, announce news, engage with your customers, ...Read more about this postAre restaurant surcharges a growing trend?
August 1, 2023
As restaurants continue to look for creative ways to get ahead in today’s economy, some operators are adding surcharges to the bill. While many diners balked at rising tipflation earlier this year, surcharges may be easier to swallow, as the industry starts to make changes for the better. Typically, the surcharges look like a line item ...Read more about this postBreakfast sales continue to rise and shine
July 18, 2023
As more and more Canadians return to the office, breakfast is gaining momentum for commuters. QSRs are benefiting from increased morning traffic that’s ramping up breakfast sales and boosting their bottom lines. 34 per cent of Canadians don’t want to cook breakfast for themselves, and 40 per cent say they eat outside the house in ...Read more about this postAre record-high food costs finally slowing down?
July 13, 2023
Consumers and restaurants continue to battle food inflation, but some costs have started coming down since January, albeit not to pre-pandemic levels. Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of the Agri-Foods Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, recaps the items with the largest price reductions so far this year: Tomatoes (- 38 per cent) Cucumbers (- 31 per cent) Strawberries (- ...Read more about this postRestaurant prices remain on the rise
July 7, 2023
With so much talk in the media about inflation and rising food costs, many restaurants have increased their menu prices to try and offset their costs. Just how much have prices gone up for consumers as operators have raised rates to try and recoup some of the losses felt over the last few years? According to ...Read more about this postOnline ordering remains a reliable source of restaurant revenues
June 28, 2023
Even as patios are filling up for the summer, online ordering continues to be an important revenue generator for restaurants. Diners want to eat out, but they also want the convenience of enjoying their favourite dishes from the comfort of their own homes. According to Paytronix, online orders have nearly tripled since the pandemic, so ...Read more about this postSetting your patio up for success
June 7, 2023
Canadians sure love patio season, so get your restaurant ready for that summer rush! With many restaurants seeing even slimmer profit margins, as labour and inflation continue to be a challenge, operators may be feeling the pressure to draw customers in and fill their seats. And while opening a new seating area can be a ...Read more about this postThe future of ghost kitchens
June 2, 2023
We’ve seen the rise of ghost kitchens over the last few years, but do they have the appeal they once had, and will we see even more of this pandemic trend pop up in the future? Initially, some commercial realtors predicted that by 2025, ghost kitchens would make up as much as 20 per cent ...Read more about this postThe current state of the foodservice industry
May 15, 2023
As the foodservice industry continues to recover through elevated food prices and ongoing labour challenges, what does it look like in today’s economic landscape? Givex’s annual survey provides insight into diner preferences and industry trends. While inflation and a possible recession have motivated many Canadians to cut back on discretionary spending, the study found that 28 ...Read more about this post