Are diners still ordering meat off the menu?

As more people turn to vegetarian, vegan, and flexitarian lifestyles, are people still ordering meat off the menu? The short answer is, yes. According to a recent study from Dalhousie University, while plant-based products are still popular, sales have dropped in recent months. Results showed that while 48.2 per cent of participants feel that plant-based […]

Adding plant-based dishes to your menu: why and how

As the foodservice industry continues to evolve, food trends come and go, but the demand for plant-based dishes is still on the rise. From vegans to flexitarians, diners are looking for more protein alternatives from restaurants. Last year, even amid inflation and supply chain delays, plant-based sales reached 8 billion dollars, a 6.6 per cent […]

Canadian diners are ordering more items off the menu

According to Technomic’s latest report, the last quarter of 2022 showed diners are ordering more off the menu, even as menu prices saw an increase of about six percent across the board. Only the kids’ menu category saw a decline in menu counts, finishing off the year with numbers down 2.2 percent overall. According to […]

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 […]

How menus are addressing diner demand for healthier choices

Diners continue to look for healthier alternatives as they visit restaurants, and menus are evolving to meet that growing demand. Including healthier choices and trendy dishes is just the start, though. It’s not just about menu features, it’s also about the language you use. Trends come and go, and language changes to reflect what customers […]

Plant-based dishes appeal to a broad array of diners

In recent years, with more consumers adopting vegan and vegetarian diets, plant-based dishes have steadily gained menu real estate. However, it looks like the increased demand comes from a general shift towards healthy eating, rather than from vegans or vegetarians. RELATED: Consumers say plant-based diets are here to stay Recently, 29 per cent of consumers […]

Restaurant menus reflect consumer demand for more protein and protein-alternatives

If protein is getting more real estate on your menu, you’re right on-trend. From premium to plant-based, consumer demand for protein is high, as rising costs and labour shortages have restaurateurs adjusting their menus. Technomic’s recent report takes a closer at customer preferences and which proteins are topping the charts. In the health food category, […]

Are consumers going full steam ahead with plant-based protein?

With plant-based protein gaining momentum in the marketplace, retailers have got their eye on product performance. Studies show that plant-based diets are gaining popularity, with retailers struggling to catch up with growing demand. Plant-based eating is rapidly becoming the norm, with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) predicting that total protein production will double, […]

Protecting your bottom line with plant-based purchases

By Riana Topan Plant-based purchases may be the key to cost savings for restaurants. With food prices alarmingly high and threatening already-narrow profit margins, food service owners and operators are struggling to find ways to contain costs. According to Restaurants Canada, the price of food at grocery stores rose by 10.1 per cent between June […]

Consumers say plant-based diets are here to stay

How has the pandemic affected consumers and their everyday diets? A Packaged Facts consumer survey suggests that many consumers made the shift to plant-based diets during the pandemic. While this may have seemed like a temporary step, the survey shows that 30 per cent of participants are still eating more fruit and vegetables than they […]