December 1, 2016 By Geoff Wilson
Despite growth in healthcare and education, overall institutional foodservice sales in Canada declined in 2015, reflecting the significant influence that demographic, economic and even environmental factors can have on this major sector of the Canadian foodservice industry.
According to fsSTRATEGY’s newly released 2016 Canadian Institutional Foodservice Market Report, total Canadian institutional foodservice market sales ...Read more about this post
November 29, 2016 By Mark Dempsey
Welcome to today’s reality. Consumers are reluctant to visit foodservice. Operators are struggling to differentiate and drive traffic. Tough economic times – such as the rise of the national unemployment rate (up to 7.1 per cent) — ensure that Canadians continue to spend cautiously. Traffic, which is already challenged, will continue to be ...Read more about this post
November 7, 2016 By Kristin Menas
Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus.
Healthy bowls
About the trend: Bowls are serving as a popular format to highlight better-for-you ingredients like superfoods
At quick-service and fast-casual concepts
Smoothie bowls are a booming health trend
Bowls eliminate the need for hearty starches like buns or wraps
Trend goes beyond ...Read more about this post
October 26, 2016 By Kristin Menas
Appetizers are currently at the forefront of menu development, with operators using starter menus to test and experiment with bold flavours, unique ingredients and creative preparations.
That appetizers can be ordered as a lead-in to a meal or as a snack between meals makes them particularly appealing options for diners looking to explore something ...Read more about this post
October 20, 2016 Foodservice expectations, millennial eating habits and online food delivery are just some of the factors impacting the foodservice industry across Canada
By Rebecca Melnyk
One new trend in commercial property management, specifically retail operations, is incorporating foodservice into bricks-and-mortar stores to discourage guests from shopping online. This pairing of two industries is becoming a more viable option ...Read more about this post
October 6, 2016 We’ve compiled the chart below to demonstrate how much sales tax is applied to foodservice meals in each province or territory in Canada. This complete chart is updated quarterly or if amendments are made. If you would like other information that isn’t in this chart, drop us a line! Read more about this post
October 4, 2016 By Kristin Menas
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Kupfert & Kim
Instagram: 9,156 followers | Facebook: 4,310 likes | Twitter: 1,500 followers
Locations: 6 (Toronto)
Concept characteristics:
Specializes in plant-based, wheat-free and ...Read more about this post
September 19, 2016 By Aaron Jourden
Now, more than ever, ethnic cuisine is fueling menu trends, fads and innovations taking place in the restaurant world. While this can be seen across mealparts and dayparts, food and drink, and flavours and ingredients, global inspirations arguably have the most impact when applied to starters and centre-of-the-plate dishes.
Here we look at some ...Read more about this post
September 12, 2016 By Alex Fraser, Cheryl Gardner and David Hopkins
The future of Canadian foodservice holds some exciting new opportunities but a few familiar challenges as well. Fresh new concepts with diversified menu offerings, along with innovations in technology, social media and marketing platforms will gain momentum. However, familiar challenges such as a weak Canadian dollar, acquiring and ...Read more about this post
September 8, 2016 By Kristin Menas
Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus in September.
Korean barbecue
About the trend: Operators are rolling out pork sandwiches, wings and other meat-focused items made with specialty Korean-inspired barbecue sauces
Featured at quick-service and casual-dining restaurants
Korean mentions are up 34.6 per cent overall on menus in the ...Read more about this post
September 1, 2016 By David Hopkins
When I named our company The Fifteen Group in 2001, it was because we believed that any decent restaurant should make at least 15 per cent profit on sales (or potentially more, under the right circumstances). We still stand by that viewpoint today, however if I were naming the company now, it might ...Read more about this post
August 25, 2016 By Jennifer Gausby
I was running late for work one morning, but was in desperate need of a jolt of caffeine. Thanks to Starbucks’ “mobile order and pay” application, I placed my double tall, non-fat latte order en route, and when I arrived at my local Starbucks my prepaid latte was ready and waiting for me. ...Read more about this post
August 11, 2016 By Liana Robberecht
In the world of restaurants, the return of family-style dining shows that food is no exception to the adage that everything old becomes new again. With the hustle and bustle of our multi-tasking, information over-loaded, everything-on-our-phones lives, people are rediscovering the importance of taking a moment to reconnect with family and friends. There ...Read more about this post
August 3, 2016 By Kristin Menas
In this edition of “restaurant concepts to watch”, we highlight three concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Nuba
Instagram: 2,215 followers | Facebook: 5,109 likes | Twitter: 4,522 followers
Locations: 4 (Vancouver)
Concept characteristics:
Modern twist on traditional Middle Eastern recipes
Contemporary ...Read more about this post
August 2, 2016 By Mark Dempsey
When was the last time you visited a quick-service chain, a sit-down restaurant, or a supermarket? Depending on your answer, it may or may not come as a surprise to you that total traffic to the Canadian commercial foodservice marketplace was flat this last year versus the year before.
While traffic is down, dollar ...Read more about this post
