Why gluten-free options should be on your menu

By Dawn Castell Do you offer gluten-free options on your menu? With consumer dietary needs ever-increasing, it’s important that your menu reflects your customers’ needs. Gluten intolerances are one thing you may want to consider when creating and engineering your menu. What is gluten intolerance? Gluten is a type of protein found in certain grains, […]

Diner demand for ethical eating continues

By Riana Topan In Canada, many people may be surprised to learn how few laws are in place to govern the ethical treatment of farmed animals. The federal government regulates how these animals are handled during transportation and slaughter through the Health of Animals Regulations and Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. These apply when animals […]

How inflation has impacted Canadian Thanksgiving

The ever-increasing food prices are affecting Canadian households across the board, from grocery shopping to family celebrations. Going into Thanksgiving, Canadians were looking at this year’s holiday a little differently, with 88 per cent expecting to be impacted by inflation and 18 per cent expecting to spend less than last year. From turkey to sides, […]

Restaurant menus reflect consumer demand for more protein and protein-alternatives

If protein is getting more real estate on your menu, you’re right on-trend. From premium to plant-based, consumer demand for protein is high, as rising costs and labour shortages have restaurateurs adjusting their menus. Technomic’s recent report takes a closer at customer preferences and which proteins are topping the charts. In the health food category, […]

Canadians are making reservations further in advance amid higher indoor dining demand

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 […]

Canadian foodservice industry looking at a slow recovery

As the foodservice industry sees a gradual increase in traffic and sales, what does the road to recovery look like? It’s been a tough few years, with rising food costs, labour shortages, and new work-from-home patterns impacting restaurants’ return to pre-pandemic standards. In a recent webinar, Chris Elliott, senior economist at Restaurants Canada, took a […]

Canadian foodservice industry’s worries will continue into 2023

As labour shortages and inflation continue to rise, is the foodservice industry bouncing back? Full patios, large takeout lines, and long reservation lists seem to indicate that we are back to business as usual, but the numbers tell a slightly different story. In a recent webinar, Chris Elliott, senior economist at Restaurants Canada, took a […]

Consumers say plant-based diets are here to stay

How has the pandemic affected consumers and their everyday diets? A Packaged Facts consumer survey suggests that many consumers made the shift to plant-based diets during the pandemic. While this may have seemed like a temporary step, the survey shows that 30 per cent of participants are still eating more fruit and vegetables than they […]

One of restaurants’ toughest tests? Attracting Gen Z diners

Capturing diners across all demographics has always been part of the challenge for restaurants. Attracting Gen Z is a unique test, particularly in the current economic and social climate. Gen Z have less disposable money and more competition for how to spend that money than perhaps any other generation in recent history. Throw in the […]

2021 Canadian restaurant online ordering trends

After a challenging couple of years, restaurateurs have learned how to adapt to keep their doors open and their businesses thriving. The rise of off-premise dining and third-party delivery point to online ordering as a key component of engaging today’s customers with the convenient, fulfilling experiences they crave.  A new report by DoorDash, 2021 Restaurant […]