As inflation continues, it may be tempting to raise menu prices to offset costs and maximize your margins, but there’s another way. Rather than increasing what you charge, get creative with cutting costs to raise your profit margin. Improving your profit margin means you need to know your current numbers. While your gross profit […]
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 […]
Robotics have a prominent place in the present and the future of foodservice, whether it is automated data collection or a burger-flipping robot. Now, Compass Group Canada and SJW Robotics are introducing a 24-hour automated kitchen, which the latter company calls “the world’s first fully autonomous robotic restaurant that cooks made-to-order meals”. The two companies […]
By Megan Prevost Recent years have seen a real insurgence of automated technology throughout the restaurant industry. In both quick-service and full-service restaurants, business owners have replaced cashiers with tablet-like ordering devices. In 2022, restaurant automation is all around us. While McDonald’s and Panera Bread are two quick-service establishments known for these devices, more and […]
By Geraint Harvey Last month, unemployment in Canada reached a record low of 5.2 per cent. Alongside low unemployment, many industries saw — and are still seeing — a worker shortage, with the number of job vacancies in Canada reaching 900,000 in January. Both of these things are good for workers, right? Prospective employers, desperate […]
The increased use of technology in the restaurant has been well-documented, ranging from automated servers to robot chefs. For example, numerous quick-service restaurants are employing robotics in their kitchens. U.S. burger chain White Castle is introducing Flippy, an aptly-named burger-grilling machine, while Hyundai Robotics is partnering with KFC to develop chicken-cooking robots. Meanwhile, Buffalo Wild Wings […]
By Laurent May In spite of the challenges of the past two years, there is a future for the restaurant business. Automation has a big role to play, but that doesn’t mean good old-fashioned human hospitality is out of style, or ever will be. We need one just as much as we need the other. […]
By Tom Nightingale Restaurants have faced far more than their fair share of potentially crippling challenges over the last two years, from forced closures to supply chain woes, rising costs across the board, and staff shortages. In response, they have taken to trying out numerous mitigating measures, from temporary outdoor seating to strategic menu price […]
By Laurent May In the business and tech worlds, the word “disruption” gets tossed around a lot — usually with positive connotations, as when a new innovation changes an industry for the better. The world in general has seen major disruptions over the past couple of years, and not always the good kind. As has […]
Technology and innovation are nothing new in foodservice and have come more sharply into focus during the pandemic. It seems that restaurant robotics may be the next step. The continuing labour shortage in the industry is pushing many operators to think outside the box when it comes to their operations. Restaurants are increasingly leaning on […]
