Industry Statistics

  • 2023’s top trends add flavour and colour to restaurant menus

    March 1, 2023
    Each year we see new colours, flavours and ingredients topping the menu trends list, so what’s in store for 2023 menus? Experts predict everything from global influences to splashy colours to nostalgic favourites, and more. Try out some of these top 2023 trends at your restaurant to stay current, get your customers talking, and appeal to ...
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  • Canadian diners are ordering more items off the menu

    February 28, 2023
    According to Technomic’s latest report, the last quarter of 2022 showed diners are ordering more off the menu, even as menu prices saw an increase of about six percent across the board. Only the kids’ menu category saw a decline in menu counts, finishing off the year with numbers down 2.2 percent overall. According to the ...
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  • Food costs continue to soar, even as Canada’s inflation rate slows

    January 19, 2023
    Canada’s inflation rate slowed to 6.3 per cent in December (the lowest it’s been since February 2022), with the cost of living declining 0.6 per cent in November and December. According to reports, the reduced rates are directly related to lower gasoline prices, resulting in December’s lowest one-month dip since April 2020. Food prices, however, continue ...
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  • 2023 brings expansion for some restaurant chains

    January 12, 2023
    Many restaurant chains are still on the path to recovery, continuing to struggle with inflation, supply chain delays, and labour shortages. But for some, 2023 brings the promise of growth and expansion, even amid the possibility of an impending recession.    RELATED: 2023 sees food prices rising even higher As we work towards getting back to pre-pandemic ...
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  • How can you boost enrolment for your loyalty program?

    January 10, 2023
    Building loyalty is an effective way to build your business, so it’s time to prioritize enrolment for your loyalty program. While the exact ratio of loyalty to cheque size is difficult to determine, it’s clear that loyalty members have continued to visit and spend, despite the continued rising inflation. With the average consumer belonging to ...
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  • Will 2023 bring the foodservice industry closer to recovery?

    January 9, 2023
    As the foodservice industry continues to move towards a full recovery, restaurants are gearing up for a challenging 2023. Restaurateurs are not especially optimistic, with only 16 per cent expecting profits to increase and 50 per cent preparing to lose money next year. In an effort to boost bottom lines, over 30 per cent have canceled ...
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  • Is employee burnout hurting your business?

    December 19, 2022
    Following the last few years of struggling to remain open, pivoting their business models, handling supply chain delays, tackling labour shortages, and managing food inflation, it’s safe to say that many in the foodservice industry are experiencing burnout. Despite adding 74,000 foodservice jobs in the summer of 2022, 65 per cent of operators report still not ...
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  • Automated scheduling is a must for your busy season

    December 14, 2022
    By Kris Edwards Restaurants and bars across Canada are prepping for a busy season in the face of many challenges, from labour shortages to the rising cost of ingredients like lettuce. In June 2022, there were 171,715 job vacancies in the foodservice industry, triple the amount of pre-pandemic levels. As a result, restaurant operators are shifting ...
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  • 2023 sees food prices rising even higher

    December 5, 2022
    As consumers and restaurants continue to struggle with record-high food prices, there’s no end in sight for Canadians. Even though the Bank of Canada has helped to lessen some of the causes of food inflation, but global factors like gas prices and the value of the Canadian dollar will play a part in what happens ...
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  • Canadian consumers have a taste for sweet treats

    November 14, 2022
    As consumer habits continue to shift and off-premise dining remains a popular option, desserts and sweet treats are making their way onto more and more takeout orders. According to the 2022 Online Ordering Trends report from Restaurants Canada, this is an ongoing trend, with baked goods taking top spot in the delivery and pickup category for ...
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  • Consumers still want to dine out, even amid recession concerns

    November 7, 2022
    As the holidays approach and so does the possibility of a recession, there are mixed reviews on predicted restaurant traffic.   Dining in restaurants is on the decline for people with lower incomes. In this year’s second quarter, one of four diners bringing in less than $45,000 per year didn’t eat out at all. That being ...
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  • Restaurant catering picks up speed as employees return to work

    November 3, 2022
    As businesses continue to recover from the pandemic and employees return to work, the demand for restaurant catering is on the rise. According to ezCater, corporate catering booking sales were up 185 per cent last month over January 2022. That looks set to continue through 2023, too, as businesses resume in-person client meetings, book corporate lunches, ...
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  • Canadians get creative as rising food costs continue

    October 6, 2022
    As Canada’s food costs continue to rise with no end in sight and rumours of an impending recession, consumers are looking at ways to best stretch their dollars. In the last 12 months, three out of four Canadians have changed the way they buy food to try and offset the increased costs.   The recently released ...
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  • Canadians are making reservations further in advance amid higher indoor dining demand

    October 5, 2022
    The restaurant industry has seen so many changes over the last few years and is in recovery mode, but even with the continuing surge in delivery and takeout, more Canadians are making reservations and visiting restaurants now than ever. In fact, the rebound in indoor dining has been so strong that Canada and the US ...
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  • How restaurants are adjusting their menus to stay viable

    October 3, 2022
    Confronted with labour shortages, inflation, supply-chain stretches, and other operational challenges, restaurants are having to find a variety of ways to adjust their business model to stay attractive to consumers and stay viable within a competitive industry. Many of those changes have come on menus. Toast’s first Voice of the Restaurant Industry survey found that one-third ...
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