Diners expect smaller portion sizes as inflation continues
May 5, 2022
A new survey from back-of-house restaurant management software company MarketMan has found that three-quarters of Americans believe restaurants will cut down on portion sizes as inflation continue. Responding to the survey, 74 per cent of Americans said they think operators will manage increasing food costs by cutting portion sizes while charging customers the same price, and ...Read more about this postWhen it comes to food prices, the Canadian government’s hands are tied
May 2, 2022
By Michael von Massow The rhetoric around inflation and increasing food prices has become a point of emphasis for politicians, particularly for those in opposition to the incumbent government. Even pundits and non-profit organizations are pressuring the government into taking specific actions on food prices. This begs the question: Should governments take steps to reduce food prices? ...Read more about this postPlant-based proteins still more expensive amid soaring cost of meat
May 2, 2022
Plant-based proteins have many benefits, not least an often comparatively reduced toll on the planet and the environment, but does their pricing limit their accessibility? A new report has found that plant-based proteins are still generally more expensive than meat products despite the soaring cost of much meat in recent months. The Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University ...Read more about this postIs it time to bet on the allure of the bar?
April 22, 2022
A recent State of On-Premise webinar from Technomic highlighted how restaurants are refining their operations at the bar to boost traffic and sales as part of their pandemic recovery. In many areas, both casual dining and full-service restaurants are seeing a slow return to high volumes, and Techonomic explained how some operators are concentrating on capturing ...Read more about this postDiners willing to pay premium for sustainable takeout
April 21, 2022
Sustainable food is increasingly a focus of discussion for the food industry and the general public, and it seems it is top of mind for diners when it comes to ordering takeout, too. According to Deliverect data cited by Restaurant Dive, more than four in 10 (43 per cent of) diners would be willing to pay ...Read more about this postRise in food prices shows no sign of halting soon
April 21, 2022
There is no relief on the horizon for restaurants, their patrons, or grocery shoppers amid continuing high inflation and rising food prices. Statistics Canada has released its latest look at how prices have changed on a year-over-year basis, comparing March 2022 and March 2021, and it does not make for light reading. We already know that inflation ...Read more about this postCanada’s food manufacturing sales grow despite inflation & turmoil
April 1, 2022
The annual Farm Credit Canada Food Report, which reviews the previous year’s industry performance, concluded that the food manufacturing sales sector held up well in 2021, rebounding significantly from 2020, and paints an optimistic picture for 2022. Noting that several external factors impacted Canadian food industries greatly in 2021, including inflation, continued COVID-19 restrictions, supply chain ...Read more about this postFast-casual kitchen work and training rebounding
March 31, 2022
Coming out of 2020, few restaurant types were better prepared for the new normal than quick-service and fast-casual, with their streamlined menus, prominent digital presence, and natural inclination towards off-premises consumption. Sales in these restaurants are trending up, and it appears they are also rebounding fairly well from the labour constraints of the last year. A recent ...Read more about this postPandemic innovations & automation will shape restaurants beyond 2022
March 29, 2022
As they bid to stay ahead of the curve through the persistent and evolving challenges of 2022, restaurants plan to continue at least some of their pandemic pivots and add more automation in order to counter ongoing staff shortages. That’s the conclusion of recent research from payments and technology solutions provider Square, which recently released its ...Read more about this postGas prices are a new thing for restaurants to worry about
March 29, 2022
New reports have assessed the impacts of soaring gas prices in America on the cost of food and the levels of spending in restaurants. While the data focuses on the U.S. specifically, much of it can be applied to Canada, where the price of fuel has also jumped in recent months due to factors including Russia’s ...Read more about this postIn brief: the state of the Canadian menu in 2022
March 23, 2022
Technomic recently released its annual State of the Canadian Menu 2022 report, highlighting growing ingredients, dishes, drinks, and flavours on menus across the country as well as trend predictions for this year. With pandemic-driven challenges continuing in 2021, operators adopted new strategies and found fresh solutions to these challenges. Looking at the past year in review ...Read more about this postHow much more expensive are food prices becoming in Canada?
March 21, 2022
We were warned, and now we’re seeing it happen. Food prices in Canadian grocery stores are soaring, and the trend only looks set to continue. Late in 2021, the annual Food Price Report predicted that Canadian food prices would likely increase by between five and seven per cent in 2022, which was the highest increase predicted ...Read more about this postVegan pasta and vegan flour markets expected to show strong growth
March 16, 2022
The markets for vegan pasta and vegan flour are expected to grow significantly over the next few years, according to reports from Future Market Insights. The growth in both markets is propelled largely by an increasing preference for plant-based ingredients in food products. Affluent millennials in particular have been the central driver of the worldwide shift ...Read more about this postWhat are the fastest-growing food items on Canadian menus?
March 9, 2022
Technomic‘s latest Industry Insights report has shed light on the fastest-growing food items on Canadian menus over the past year. Leading the way with 150 per cent growth year over year is burgundy wine, with the beverage being served at both fine dining restaurants and contemporary casual dining restaurants. Also in the beverage bracket, hard seltzer is ...Read more about this postIntegrating digital & on-site experience is key to driving restaurant sales
March 7, 2022
A new report from Paytronix has found that restaurant managers are increasingly looking to integrate physical and online customer experience as a key component of their innovation strategy to boost restaurant sales. The 2022 Restaurant Friction Index found that a cross-channel ordering experience has become an integral approach. Four in 10 (41 per cent) of the ...Read more about this post