Shifting consumer spending and its effect on restaurants

Consumers are cutting back on discretionary spending as they prepare for a possible recession, but have those cutbacks meant less revenue for restaurants? Are Canadians limiting their restaurant visits as inflation continues to soar? According to a recent study by Capterra,  85 per cent of consumers are worried about the looming recession, and nine out […]

Restaurateurs embrace technology ahead of a looming recession

By Mo Chaar The challenges for Canadian restaurateurs from the last few years continue as we face a possible recession. Inflation has increased costs across the board, placing financial pressure on restaurant guests and operators alike. As a result, restaurateurs face heightened pressures of meeting customer expectations, finding labour, implementing cost-effective ways to meet changing […]

According to experts, there’s no end in sight for food inflation

Food inflation continues to weigh on restaurants and consumers. We have watched food costs reach record-breaking levels in this last year and experts predict that it will continue beyond 2023, offering elevated numbers into 2025. Current inflation has surpassed previously predicted numbers for 2023, reaching 10.6 per cent in February year over year, significantly above […]

Restaurants adapt to address the long-term labour shortage

The foodservice industry has been fighting the ongoing labour shortage ever since they were allowed to reopen after the pandemic and many of them are preparing to struggle for the long haul. Last year, 25 per cent of restaurateurs were confident that the labour shortage would end in the next six months, however now, 90 […]

Shrinkflation hits restaurant diners in Canada

We’ve certainly heard a lot about inflation in the news lately, but how is “shrinkflation” affecting the foodservice industry? According to Sylvain Charlebois, professor at Dalhousie University, shrinkflation is when a food manufacturer reduces the quantities its producing, but sells the product for the same price. Because this practice is increasing, the Canada Revenue Agency […]

Restaurants and bars to be hit with Canada’s new alcohol tax hike

Amid the foodservice industry’s struggle to recover, the Canadian government is getting ready to introduce the largest alcohol tax hike in history. On April 1, the federal alcohol duty is set to go up 6.3 per cent. The yearly increase has always been considered a nuisance for the industry, as alcohol excise duties are imposed […]

A look at today’s rising menu prices

As rising food costs continue to make headlines, many restaurants have raised their menu prices to help find a balance and offset their increased expenses. Rather than simply upping prices across the board, it’s a good time for restaurants to evaluate their margins, engineer their menus, and adjust pricing to better the bottom line. RELATED: […]

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 […]

Are value items on the menu for 2023?

As many diners seem to be adjusting to rising prices, some restaurants are introducing value items to their menus to attract those consumers looking to eat for less. While some experts are looking at inflation as a catalyst for positive change, other sources are suggesting that lower pricing can help boost profitability. From breakfast additions […]

Foodservice today and tomorrow: looking ahead to a bright future

We’ve spent a lot of time in recent months looking back at the last few years, analyzing the journey, but now it’s time to look at how far we’ve come and ahead to a bright future. With the continued challenges of persistent inflation and labour shortages, it’s important for restaurateurs to get to know their […]