Restaurants inch closer to pre-pandemic staffing levels

As the ongoing struggles from supply chain delays, inflation, and staffing shortages continue, the restaurant industry is slowly on its way to recovery. Studies show that while the restaurant industry remains 2.1 per cent below staffing from pre-pandemic days, 339,000 jobs were added last month, well above the predicted 195,000. This good news comes with […]

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 […]

Is there an upside of inflation for restaurants?

Restaurants continue to struggle with food costs and labour shortages, but some experts are seeing inflation as a catalyst for positive change. David Hopkins, president of The Fifteen Group, sees the situation as a great opportunity for restaurants to tighten their operations and increase efficiency. Adjust pricing to address inflation “Restaurants have always had to […]

A seasonal menu can benefit your business

Winter is on the horizon and as seasons change, so should your restaurant. Heating replaces your air conditioning, your patio closes or is revamped, and your menu gets a makeover with a seasonal spin.   John Moody, co-founder and Chief Strategist of Restaurant365, writes that getting the winter crowd through your doors doesn’t have to […]

7 ways to upsell your customers

By Mark Plumlee To maximize the success of your business and get the most out of every transaction for your restaurant, your servers need to know how to upsell.   As any salesman worth his salt will tell you, upselling is an effective way to increase boost your profits and get customers taking you up […]

How restaurants are adjusting their menus to stay viable

Confronted with labour shortages, inflation, supply-chain stretches, and other operational challenges, restaurants are having to find a variety of ways to adjust their business model to stay attractive to consumers and stay viable within a competitive industry. Many of those changes have come on menus. Toast’s first Voice of the Restaurant Industry survey found that […]

Your menu pricing strategy can help your restaurant get ahead

As inflation continues to rise and labour shortages persist, it may be time to look at your menu pricing strategy as a way to cut costs and raise profits. As a restaurateur, you know it’s a balancing act to keep customers happy and stay in the green. Understanding how to create a menu pricing strategy […]

How supply shortages impact menu engineering

Sustained supply shortages are just one of the challenges that still continue to plague restaurants in North America, and the effects of that crunch are felt in everything from menu prices and options to staffing. Anissa Mandell Chance, SVP of Supply Chain at Focus Brands, the parent company of brands including Schlotzsky’s, Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill, […]

Finding your “vanilla” is key to success

By Scott Moore There are hundreds of ice cream flavours, yet one of the most popular is and may well always be vanilla. One would also wager that the most popular pizza is pepperoni, regular potato chips are still the rage, and chicken noodle soup remains a top seller. There are many other examples of […]