Many diners keen on metaverse, but restaurants must mitigate

The rapid evolution of technology has long been redefining restaurant consumers’ concept of “normal”. Think of the move from laminated print menus as a standard to QR codes or ordering kiosks. Now, the next step may well be the metaverse. A new Paytronix and PYMNTS Report, The Digital Divide: Technology, The Metaverse, and the Future […]

Plastic packaging may increase food waste, finds report

Not only does wrapping food in plastic packaging hurt the environment by producing more plastic waste, it can also increase food waste by forcing customers to buy more than they actually need. That’s according to a new 18-month study by sustainability charity Wrap, reported in the Guardian, which concluded that supermarkets, grocers, and other food […]

Consumers looking for sustainability claims on packaging

A new report from Cargill suggests that consumers are being increasingly influenced by sustainability claims on food packaging. The recent global Fatitudes survey found that 55 per cent of consumers said they are more likely to purchase a packaged food item if it includes a sustainability claim, a four-point jump since the company last fielded […]

Meal kits: are they a passing fad or here to stay?

Ready-to-make meal kits have surged in popularity during the pandemic with indoor dining off the table for so much of the last two years. The question now is whether they will endure. A new Canadian study by Empathy Inc. in partnership with Vividata suggests that, while the appeal of these kits varies based on demographic, […]

Canada’s Food Price Report 2022 predicts unprecedented spike

The pandemic has already raised costs in foodservice and beyond, wreaking havoc on supply chains and food availability. And Canadians are about to start paying a whole lot more for food, according to Canada’s Food Price Report 2022. The guide, released on December 9, is published annually by researchers with Dalhousie University, the University of Guelph, […]

The importance of TikTok for restaurants: the clock is ticking

Restaurants are on a constant journey to innovate and broaden their reach, and the pandemic has only intensified this need. When it comes to social media, Instagram and other ubiquitous platforms have led the way in recent years, but TikTok for restaurants is becoming increasingly essential. In a day when TikTok has arguably overtaken Instagram […]

Transparency, affordability & sustainability top food priorities for Canadians

Canadians are keen to see improvements to the country’s food infrastructure, and their key focuses are on transparency, affordability, and sustainability. That’s according to new research from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity’s (CCFI’s) 2021 Public Trust Research Report, which shows that the proportion of Canadians who felt Canada’s food system is headed in the right direction has […]

Testing high-touch surfaces in grocery stores for COVID-19

By Maleeka Singh, Lawrence Goodridge, Maria G. Corradini, Robert Hanner, and Steven Newmaster As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, and the virus continues to circulate, the transmission risks of everyday interactions may become an ongoing concern. A recent study at the University of Guelph looked at the risk of COVID-19 exposure from high-touch surfaces within […]

Diversity in foodservice lags behind other industries, finds report

Despite efforts to improve diversity in foodservice, the industry is still lagging behind many other sectors, as well as its own targets, according to a new study from Deloitte and The Food Industry Association (FMI). The report found that while 68 per cent of food and beverage companies are training their employees on diversity and […]

Mislabelled seafood remains a big problem in Canada

A new “DNA investigation” by Oceana Canada has found that the presence of mislabelled seafood products is still a big problem in Canada. The charitable organization, part of an international advocacy group dedicated to ocean conversation, carried out a new study in cities across Canada where it has previously sampled seafood from grocery stores and restaurants. The […]