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
June 9, 2021 As Canadian foodservice continues to begin to rebound from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing is expected to see more positive days ahead. BDC’s latest Food and Beverage Manufacturing Outlook estimates that food and beverage manufacturing, Canada’s second-largest manufacturing industry, will grow by 15.6 per cent in the next five years. The sector is anticipated to grow by 2.4 ...Read more about this post
June 8, 2021 With outdoor dining on various provinces’ agendas heading into summer, David Hopkins offers the need-to-know. By David Hopkins Two years ago, consumers ranked restaurant patios primarily based on their “vibe”, their menu, and their crowd. Now, getting on for 16 months into the pandemic, that can’t be further from the truth. In 2021, it’s all about transparency, ...Read more about this post
June 7, 2021 Ryerson University’s Brookfield Institute has released a report detailing key ways in which the food retail and grocery industries are changing amid the backdrop of COVID-19. The new report, “Shake-up in Aisle 21: Disruption, Change and Opportunity in Ontario’s Grocery Sector,” concludes that the food retail and grocery industries are transforming at greater speed and with ...Read more about this post
May 31, 2021 A new report from Deloitte assesses what the future could look like beyond the pandemic when it comes to Canadian food consumption trends. “The conflicted consumer: 2021 food consumer survey” report concludes that beyond the COVID-19 pandemic “food retailers will need to continue demonstrating authenticity, empathy, transparency, and genuine commitment to their communities, the wider world, and ...Read more about this post
May 26, 2021 Amid the uncertainty and change of the past year, organic food is prospering. U.S. organic sales jumped by a record 12.4 per cent to US$61.9 billion in 2020, according to the 2021 Organic Industry Survey released by the Organic Trade Association (OTA). That marks the first time that total sales of organic food and non-food products have surpassed ...Read more about this post
May 26, 2021 It will come as little surprise to most that the number of digital takeout orders has soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. But new research from the NDP Group has lifted the lid on just how big the spike has been. Digital ordering was a life-saving avenue for many restaurants and foodservice operators across North America in ...Read more about this post
May 26, 2021 By Jessica Zekry The pandemic has forced restaurants and consumers alike to change their behaviours overnight. Online ordering was a growing trend for several years until it became the only way to keep restaurants afloat and diners served. The value and utility that this service offers has certainly allowed it to make its way into new ...Read more about this post
May 18, 2021 By Brigitte Foisy With nearly 215 million people, Brazil was the world’s sixth most populated country in 2020. It is Latin America’s largest economy; a developing, diversified economy that was the ninth largest in the world by GDP in 2019 according to the World Bank and United Nations. Given its status among the top 30 global importers, ...Read more about this post
May 12, 2021 A new report from Technomic illustrates the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the beverage category of foodservice. The report is a deliverable of Technomic’s Away-From-Home Beverage Navigator program, which offers a comprehensive assessment of both hot and cold beverage categories, including market sizing, historical tracking, predicted growth, consumer insights, operator responses, major trends ...Read more about this post
