Several key lifelines emerged for restaurants and other foodservice operations during the worst of the pandemic, from online ordering to curbside pickup and delivery and contactless payments. Another prominent trend was recognition of the importance of loyalty programs. Loyalty programs not only create a lasting connection between patrons and a restaurant and/or brand, but they […]
A new report from the National Restaurant Association suggests that the effects of the pandemic on US restaurants are far from over. According to new data, 78 per cent of US restaurants reported a decline in customer demand for indoor dining in recent weeks due to the rise of delta variant COVID-19 cases. In addition, […]
With a labour shortage sweeping North American foodservice, the pay that restaurant workers receive, particularly the wages of hourly employees, is under review. New research suggests, rather unsurprisingly, that higher pay positively impacts customer service. Researchers at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business compared restaurant reviews where the minimum wage has increased versus those […]
New Black Box Intelligence data shows that full-service restaurant (FSR) tickets in the U.S. grew by nearly 20 per cent on a two-year basis as of Q2 2021. The restaurant backdrop improved last quarter as the economy reopened and vaccines increased consumer confidence, helping FSR transactions grow compared to Q1. This has contributed to the latest figures, which were also spurred by higher menu pricing brought in by many restaurants to offset […]
The latest survey from Restaurants Canada has found that eight out of 10 surviving Canadian restaurants are still barely scraping by, nearly 18 months into the pandemic. According to the latest data drawn from the study conducted in July: Over half (55 per cent) of restaurant operators said they are still operating at a loss […]
Canadian restaurant job hirings are spiking as provinces continue to relax COVID-19 restrictions, in what experts say is a good sign on the road to foodservice and hospitality’s recovery. Job listings in food preparation and foodservice have surged in recent weeks to reach 37 per cent above pre-pandemic levels as of June 18, according to […]
New data from the Plant-Based Foods Association (PBFA) and The Good Food Institute (GFI) shows that U.S. retail plant-based food sales grew 27 per cent to US$7 billion in 2020. The growth in plant-based food sales was consistent across the nation, suggests the report, with more than 25 per cent growth in every U.S. census […]
Canadian foodservice sales are expected to rebound somewhat in 2021, albeit still remaining way below pre-COVID-19 levels. Commercial foodservice sales in Canada are forecast to improve to $61.4 billion in 2021, says a new report from Restaurants Canada. This would represent an 11.8-per-cent increase compared to 2020 but would still be 20 per cent below […]
