Consumers are still sweet on chocolate

Chocolate has always topped the favourites list for desserts, with 86 per cent of Canadians having consumed chocolate within the last three months. However, from rising health concerns to flavour preferences, how can restaurants include sweet treats on their menu that will appeal to guests and raise cheque totals? Health vs. indulgence The ever-increasing desire […]

Using 2023 trends to grow your restaurant business

These days, competition is fierce and anything your restaurant can do to set itself apart is an opportunity to grow your business. With 87 per cent of food operators more worried about inflation this year than anything else, what are the industry trends that will help drive success this year, and how can you use […]

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 […]

The US wants to redefine what counts as healthy food

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is redefining “healthy” food. The FDA on September 28 released the result of six years of consultations and revision: proposed new guidelines for assessing what constitutes “healthy” food. In short, something that is produced, advertised, or sold as “healthy” will now need to have the equivalent of one serving […]

How to incorporate the trendiest ingredients into your bowls

Food bowls have become popular in recent years, with 35 per cent of Canadian restaurants now featuring either a savoury or sweet bowl option for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Many consumers are looking for healthy, value-conscious meals, and food bowls fit the bill. Beautifully simple, bowls typically include a base, a protein, complementary toppings, and […]

Canada’s first sugar sweetened beverage tax introduced in Newfoundland and Labrador

In a move to try and decrease sugar consumption in Newfoundland and Labrador, the first sugar sweetened beverage tax in Canada has now been implemented by the provincial government. As promised in October 2021, a tax of 20 cents per litre now applies to all drinks with added sugars, on top of the existing provincial […]

Canadians are looking for healthy, value-conscious menus

As diners return to their favourite restaurants and we try to adopt a more “business as usual” approach, how will restaurant menus need to change to reflect growing demand and new trends? Technomic has gathered some interesting data highlighting which menu items have gained the most popularity from pre-pandemic to today. Topping the list with […]

Preventing obesity starts in the grocery aisle with food packaging

By Eugene Y. Chan and Liangyan Wang In 2018, Statistics Canada reported that nearly one in three Canadians were obese. Similar figures have been reported in Australia, but more concerning is the United States, where over 40 percent of the population is obese. Obesity is not the only diet-related illness to be concerned about — diabetes […]

Canada to require nutrition warnings on some packaged food

Starting in 2026, Canada will require that nutrition warnings are posted on the front of pre-packaged food with high levels of saturated fat, sugar, or sodium. According to the Canadian Press, the key reasoning behind the move is to help grocery shoppers make healthier choices with just a glance. The policy has been in the […]

Health, environmental consciousness driving plant-based demand

Consumers’ physical health goals and concerns about the environment continue to be the leading factors in driving demand for plant-based food. That’s according to the new “2022 Plant-Forward Opportunity” report from Datassential in collaboration with The Culinary Institute of America, Food for Climate League, and the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative. The research found that more than one in […]