Food Focus

  • Shrinkflation hits restaurant diners

    March 28, 2023
    We’ve certainly heard a lot about inflation in the news lately, but how is “shrinkflation” affecting the foodservice industry? According to Sylvain Charlebois, professor at Dalhousie University, shrinkflation is when a food manufacturer reduces the quantities its producing, but sells the product for the same price. Because this practice is increasing, the Canada Revenue Agency has ...
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  • Restaurants and bars to be hit with Canada’s new alcohol tax hike

    March 27, 2023
    Amid the foodservice industry’s struggle to recover, the Canadian government is getting ready to introduce the largest alcohol tax hike in history. On April 1, the federal alcohol duty is set to go up 6.3 per cent. The yearly increase has always been considered a nuisance for the industry, as alcohol excise duties are imposed at ...
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  • A look at today’s rising menu prices

    March 17, 2023
    As rising food costs continue to make headlines, many restaurants have raised their menu prices to help find a balance and offset their increased expenses. Rather than simply upping prices across the board, it’s a good time for restaurants to evaluate their margins, engineer their menus, and adjust pricing to better the bottom line. RELATED: Is ...
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  • St. Patrick’s Day menu ideas for your restaurant

    March 14, 2023
    By Mark Plumlee Everyone’s a little Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, which means that it’s the perfect time to create a specialty holiday menu inspired by the Emerald Isle! Irish beer and whiskey are a great start but don’t stop there. Be sure to add plenty of Irish and Irish-inspired dishes to round out your menu ...
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  • Fast-food restaurants face competition from convenience stores

    March 8, 2023
    The fast-food market is becoming even more competitive, as convenience stores continue to get attention in this space. With persistent labour shortages, supply chain delays, and the significant growth of off-premise dining, many stores are expanding, capitalizing on higher food margins to help grow their profits. Can convenience stores deliver what diners are looking for? Consumers ...
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  • Trend Watch: Meat-infused cocktails, pickled nuts, salal berries

    March 7, 2023
    By Katie Belflower In our latest edition of Trend Watch with Technomic, we are focusing on three current top menu trends across Canada, showcasing some of the restaurants that are creatively and successfully adding these items, flavours, or ingredients to their menus. Meat-infused cocktails Operators are featuring cocktails infused with meaty elements including marrow, fat, and stock. These ...
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  • 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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  • Attract couples to your restaurant with date nights

    February 27, 2023
    By Mark Plumlee Now that Valentine’s Day has passed, it’s time to celebrate anniversaries and date nights for the rest of the year. Many couples struggle to find time to plan a special evening, but your restaurant can help with easy and romantic options, while also promoting and building your business. With tougher competition than ever in ...
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  • Using 2023 trends to grow your restaurant business

    February 24, 2023
    These days, competition is fierce and anything your restaurant can do to set itself apart is an opportunity to grow your business. With 87 per cent of food operators more worried about inflation this year than anything else, what are the industry trends that will help drive success this year, and how can you use ...
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  • Are value items on the menu for 2023?

    February 23, 2023
    As many diners seem to be adjusting to rising prices, some restaurants are introducing value items to their menus to attract those consumers looking to eat for less. While some experts are looking at inflation as a catalyst for positive change, other sources are suggesting that lower pricing can help boost profitability. From breakfast additions to ...
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  • Foodservice today and tomorrow: looking ahead to a bright future

    February 22, 2023
    We’ve spent a lot of time in recent months looking back at the last few years, analyzing the journey, but now it’s time to look at how far we’ve come and ahead to a bright future. With the continued challenges of persistent inflation and labour shortages, it’s important for restaurateurs to get to know their ...
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  • Is there an upside of inflation for restaurants?

    February 22, 2023
    Restaurants continue to struggle with food costs and labour shortages, but some experts are seeing inflation as a catalyst for positive change. David Hopkins, president of The Fifteen Group, sees the situation as a great opportunity for restaurants to tighten their operations and increase efficiency. Adjust pricing to address inflation “Restaurants have always had to face challenges ...
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  • Five food holidays your restaurant can celebrate in March

    February 10, 2023
    March is full of fun holidays that will get your guests’ mouths watering and give you the chance to up your restaurant’s revenues. Celebrating food holidays at your restaurant is a great way to try out new promos, attract new customers, and offer your regulars an extra reason to return. Bringing people together to try ...
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  • Technology helps address staffing shortages and inflation

    February 9, 2023
    As we continue to navigate staffing shortages and inflation, the hospitality industry is adopting technology tools to help deliver exceptional guest experiences. According to Lightspeed’s 2022 Global State of the Hospitality Industry Report, businesses are getting creative with tech solutions to stay afloat and get ahead.   Staffing shortages With 50 per cent of businesses working with ...
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