August 25, 2016 By Jennifer Gausby
I was running late for work one morning, but was in desperate need of a jolt of caffeine. Thanks to Starbucks’ “mobile order and pay” application, I placed my double tall, non-fat latte order en route, and when I arrived at my local Starbucks my prepaid latte was ready and waiting for me. ...Read more about this post
August 5, 2016 Celebrate the Olympics foodie-style with Brazilian menu favourites
By Kavita Sabharwal
Although the opening ceremony is set to take place on the evening of August 5th, it’s not too late for your restaurant to get into the competitive spirit of the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games. The Games are taking place in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, where food ...Read more about this post
August 2, 2016 By Mark Dempsey
When was the last time you visited a quick-service chain, a sit-down restaurant, or a supermarket? Depending on your answer, it may or may not come as a surprise to you that total traffic to the Canadian commercial foodservice marketplace was flat this last year versus the year before.
While traffic is down, dollar ...Read more about this post
July 25, 2016 By Jasmine Kafka
Fast casual restaurants have the perfect recipe for families-on-the-go: convenient, fast and often featuring healthy meal options. Plus, no clean up! The question is, how do you create a meaningful connection with your customer when their visits are brief and interactions are minimal?
Fast and fantastic first impressions
It may be cliché but first impressions ...Read more about this post
July 22, 2016 By Kavita Sabharwal
Pokémon Go, the tremendously popular augmented reality game, was officially released in Canada on July 17. Since then, sidewalks and public spaces near PokéStops have been often overrun by kids and adults alike, all with their heads bent over their phones, trying to catch ‘em all.
This craze that has been sweeping the nation ...Read more about this post
July 5, 2016 By Sean Beckingham
Food delivery services are becoming more popular in Canada, and we’re not just referring to pizza and Chinese take-out. Food delivery apps offer worry-free, hassle-free ways to get a wide range of meals from fast-casual places and popular restaurants.
UberEATS entered the market back in February 2015, capitalizing on their successful Uber driving services. ...Read more about this post
June 20, 2016 By Kristin Menas
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique.
Flock Rotisserie + Greens
Instagram: 3,205 followers | Twitter: 448 followers
Locations: 3 (Toronto)
Concept characteristics:
Quality, healthy rotisserie chicken and specialty salads
Free-range birds ...Read more about this post
June 6, 2016 By Hugh Johnston
With food inflation at a troubling 3.9 per cent year-over-year in the third quarter of 2015, operators have more reason than ever to be concerned about rising food costs. Leading the way were beef (up 12 per cent), fresh vegetables (up 11.5 per cent) and pasta (up 10.5 per cent). If you make ...Read more about this post
June 1, 2016 By Roger Mittag
Glassware is one of those intangible items in hospitality that is often taken for granted. For centuries in North America, beer glassware has not been given a second thought. However, things have changed for the better.
Breweries are now developing glassware that is designed to enhance the flavour and aromatic profile of the beer ...Read more about this post
May 18, 2016 By Kristin Menas
The following trends will continue to make a big impact on restaurant menus this year. Below we will highlight some of the leading menu trends to watch on Canadian menus.
Pretzels
About the trend: A number of operators are experimenting with pretzels beyond pretzel buns, including the use of this salty snack as a breading ...Read more about this post
April 25, 2016 By Kristin Menas
In our first ever ‘concepts to watch,’ we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. These original eateries use social media to their benefit, are positioned as fast-casual and offer guests unique experiences. Here’s a look at our top fast-casual restaurant concepts.
Mandy’s
Instagram: 5,797 followers |Facebook: 4,710 likes
Locations: 3 ...Read more about this post
April 19, 2016 By Jennifer Gausby
During my recent travels to Portugal I visited a restaurant that encouraged me to forget about time. On the back of the menu was a note from the owner that read: “Please stop your watch. Seize the moment.” He then went on to quote Andy Warhol, who said: “The idea of waiting for ...Read more about this post
April 18, 2016 By Diane Chiasson
Is it time to expand your restaurant? You have a reliable customer base and a profitable ongoing restaurant operation. Instead of going through the hassles of looking for real estate, dealing with major construction and suffering the headaches of opening another branch, consider an expansion of your existing location. Try these eight other ...Read more about this post
April 8, 2016 By Chad Finkelstein
Franchise law is a good thing. While that may seem an obvious and self-serving statement coming from a franchise lawyer, one of the reasons that I take satisfaction from my job has to do with the purpose that (I hope) it serves. And that has a lot to do with why franchise law ...Read more about this post
March 31, 2016 By Diane Chiasson
With the success of the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada is becoming more of an international hotspot for travellers. Tourists are increasingly realizing the draw of this beautiful country, from the scenery and mountains of the West Coast to the European flair of Quebec, the multicultural diversity of Ontario and the waterside ...Read more about this post
