Setting your patio up for success
June 7, 2023
Canadians sure love patio season, so get your restaurant ready for that summer rush! With many restaurants seeing even slimmer profit margins, as labour and inflation continue to be a challenge, operators may be feeling the pressure to draw customers in and fill their seats. And while opening a new seating area can be a ...Read more about this postThe future of ghost kitchens
June 2, 2023
We’ve seen the rise of ghost kitchens over the last few years, but do they have the appeal they once had, and will we see even more of this pandemic trend pop up in the future? Initially, some commercial realtors predicted that by 2025, ghost kitchens would make up as much as 20 per cent ...Read more about this postConcepts to Watch: Odd Burger, Beertown, Souvlaki Bar
May 31, 2023
By Katie Belflower
Restobiz and Technomic’s Concepts to Watch this month features Odd Burger, Beertown, and Souvlaki Bar as three Canadian innovative restaurants. Building and growing your restaurant concept is vital to getting ahead in the fiercely competitive foodservice industry. Creating a menu that reflects your restaurant will get you more attention, help you stand out, ...Read more about this postAre subscriptions a viable option for your restaurant?
May 26, 2023
We’ve seen in recent years that subscriptions serve as steady sources of income, so why not apply that model to restaurants? Loosely, this concept looks like restaurants offering services, products, or perks to guests in exchange for a monthly subscription fee. Some restaurants are offering a free appetizer at each visit, bottomless drinks, dining credits, ...Read more about this postCelebrating food holidays in June
May 25, 2023
If you’re looking for new ways to attract customers, offer something unique, and create a buzz for your restaurant, try celebrating some of the food holidays in June. Getting your guests in the spirit with unique menu items, themed décor, and enthusiastic staff will have customers talking about your restaurant in no time.
You can go ...Read more about this postShifting consumer spending and its effect on restaurants
May 25, 2023
Consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending as they prepare for a possible recession, but have those cutbacks meant less revenue for restaurants? Are Canadians limiting their restaurant visits as inflation continues to soar?
According to a recent study by Capterra, 85 per cent of consumers are worried about the looming recession, and nine out of ...Read more about this post7 ways to grow your restaurant’s social media following
May 2, 2023
By Mark Plumlee
The restaurant industry is increasingly being driven and impacted by social media. Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook can help you generate more website hits, create buzz, and contribute to your restaurant’s overall success.
Think of it this way: if each post is like a mini billboard, then the more followers you have, the ...Read more about this postDigital transformation helps restaurants manage consumer demands and economic challenges
April 27, 2023
By Luke Rose
Can restaurants use digital transformation as a tool to balance their bottom lines, consumer demands, and economic challenges? The current economic climate, paired with aftershocks from the pandemic, has fuelled a decline in consumer discretionary spending. As a result, many restaurants increased prices as they race to get their heads above the water ...Read more about this postSustainability practices that restaurants can learn from hotels
April 21, 2023
By Peter Dougherty
Adopting sustainability practices is important for restaurants to stay relevant, and there’s a lot to be learned from hotels. Getting away to a hotel is the ultimate luxury for most people: with the big, comfy bed and crisp white sheets, and leaving towels behind to be “magically” replaced with fresh, clean versions. The ...Read more about this postRestaurants are branching out, developing new revenue streams
April 5, 2023
As restaurants continue to search for ways to find success amid inflation and labour shortages, many are exploring new revenue streams to boost their bottom lines and avoid raising menu prices. In fact, only 23 per cent of restaurants plan to increase their prices, even though 85 per cent of Canadian customers say they would ...Read more about this postWhat are your restaurant customers looking for?
April 3, 2023
It’s often hard for restaurant owners to determine what their guests are looking for, going through a trial-and-error process that can be costly and frustrating. What are customers looking for on your menu? According to Datassential, they are looking for global inspiration and sustainability.
Global flavours
You’ve added new, exciting, on-trend items to your menu, but how ...Read more about this postConcepts to Watch: Hudsons Canada’s Pub, Nickels Deli, Meltwich
March 30, 2023
By: Katie Belflower
In this edition of Concepts to Watch, Restobiz and Technomic highlight three innovative restaurants across the country: Hudsons Canada’s Pub, Nickels Deli, and Meltwich. Competition in the foodservice industry is fierce, so knowing how to stand out from the crowd is crucial. Being clear about your restaurant concept and creating a menu that ...Read more about this postIs it time for a new marketing strategy?
March 23, 2023
If your restaurant has been relying on the same marketing strategy for any length of time, chances are, it’s time to shake things up. Staying consistent with your brand and messaging is important, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with your marketing when it needs a refresh.
A new marketing strategy means staying true ...Read more about this postFast-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 ...Read more about this postHow to make QR codes work for your restaurant
March 6, 2023
QR codes became a top trend for contactless ordering during pandemic days, but are they still serving a purpose? The answer rests in how they’re being used by restaurants. As a one-dimensional, pdf version of your menu, the QR code likely isn’t doing you any favours. Many diners find them awkward, having to stretch and ...Read more about this post
