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 11, 2021 Vaccine regulations truly are dividing opinion in foodservice. Many restaurant operators do not agree with the new vaccine regulations including mandated proof of vaccination, and while plenty are willing to put up with the measure to safeguard the future, there are still concerns from a significant proportion of operators over a potential long-term adverse effect on ...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
October 1, 2021 The number of Canadian small businesses unable to pay their rent in September rose six per cent from the previous month.
Alignable’s September Rent Report found that 38 per cent of small businesses in Canada couldn’t pay their landlords last month, with many citing the surge in Delta variant COVID-19 cases as a leading reason for ...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 28, 2021 By Bruce McAdams and Rebecca Gordon Restaurant operators across Canada are struggling to find enough staff to run their operations. This labour crisis has been highly publicized by Canadian media as a “labour shortage.” A recent survey by Restaurants Canada found that 80 per cent of foodservice operators were finding it difficult to hire kitchen staff and ...Read more about this post
September 17, 2021 Canadians are eagerly returning to their favourite spots, with COVID-19 restrictions lifted to some extent everywhere across Canada and restaurants open again across the country. However, OpenTable data suggests that reservation no-shows are persisting as a problem for the industry. The provider of online restaurant reservations found that over 75 per cent of its restaurant partners ...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 10, 2021 As provinces continue to further reopen their economies and indoor dining returned on a broad scale over the summer, hospitality and foodservice employment rebounded in August. The foodservice and accommodation sector recovered 74,600 jobs in August compared to July, causing overall employment in the sector to increase to 1,067,700 — its highest level since February 2020. Ontario ...Read more about this post
September 8, 2021 It’s not just foodservice that has been suffering a labour shortage. Across numerous industries in Canada, employment levels remain down when compared to before the pandemic. Restaurants could be the key to restoring the balance. “Restaurants are key to bringing Canadians back to work, but precarious conditions over the past 18+ months have created unprecedented hiring challenges,” ...Read more about this post
September 3, 2021 With a labour shortage sweeping North American foodservice, the pay that restaurant workers receive, particularly the wages of hourly employees, is under review. New research suggests, rather unsurprisingly, that higher pay positively impacts customer service. Researchers at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business compared restaurant reviews where the minimum wage has increased versus those where ...Read more about this post
September 2, 2021 A new white paper from JLL’s Big Red Rooster has suggested that diners still prefer engaging with staff at quick-service restaurants (QSR) to a fully technological experience. Most consumers still prefer working with staff throughout their dining experience, reports the research. Over half (54 per cent) want help navigating the menu, 59 per cent want help ...Read more about this post
September 1, 2021 The Quebec vaccine passport has officially gone into effect from September 1, meaning that all on-site dining patrons at restaurants must now require proof they have received double vaccination. To enter restaurants or bars for indoor or outdoor dining, as well as many other non-essential businesses and services, Quebecers aged 13 and up must show a ...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
