Restaurants Canada

Restaurants Canada welcomed the federal government's National Food Security Strategy announced today by Prime Minister Mark Carney, calling it an important step toward strengthening Canada's food system through investments in domestic food production, processing, and distribution infrastructure.

Several recommendations advanced by Restaurants Canada during consultations are reflected in the strategy, including investments in food terminals and food hubs, measures to strengthen competition and consumer affordability, efforts to reduce regulatory barriers, and initiatives aimed at expanding domestic food processing capacity and improving supply-chain resilience.

Restaurants serve 23.7 million customer visits every day and welcome a strategy that strengthens Canada's food system from production to consumer access.

Read our full statement here: https://bit.ly/4uGryMo

Restaurants provide an essential source of food access for millions of Canadians and are a critical component of Canada’s food security ecosystem.

✔️23.7 million times per day, a Canadian makes a purchase at a foodservice establishment.
✔️The average transaction size per person is just $12.
✔️The average Canadian household spent 28% of their food budget on restaurant meals and snacks.

To ensure that Canadians continue to have access to safe, affordable, and diverse meal options, Restaurants Canada has made recommendations to the Government of Canada as they create a national food security strategy.

A healthy restaurant sector is essential to affordable food access, a resilient supply chain, and the livelihoods of the producers and communities that depend on it. The recommendations in this submission are designed to help address the root causes of food cost inflation, strengthen domestic food production, improve supply chain resilience, and reduce food waste.

Together we can work with the government towards our shared goal of improving food security and food sovereignty across Canada.

Read our full submission: https://bit.ly/4egCmKD

What impact are return-to-office policies having on Canada’s restaurant industry?

Results are mixed. According to the latest edition of The Quarterly, nearly half of operators (49%) report no noticeable change in customer traffic tied to return-to-office mandates, while 11% have noticed an increase and 13% say it's too early to say.
Explore more insights and industry trends in the full report, here: https://bit.ly/4cUiGvF

Nearly 50,000 more youth are working in Canada's restaurant industry today than a year ago — an 11.5% increase and the largest youth employment gain of any industry.

Restaurants are a jobs powerhouse - the fourth largest private sector employer, employing 1.2 million Canadians, 40% of whom are youth, and the number one source of first-time jobs.

Restaurants continue to be the number one source of first-time jobs, with youth making up 40% of our workforce of 1.2 million Canadians. And those numbers are increasing.

We've designed a toolkit to support operators in strengthening recruitment and retention of the next generation of foodservice talent. More than a starting point, our sector is a values-driven, community-rooted career destination where young Canadians can build something lasting.

Restaurants Canada members can access the free toolkit by logging in here: https://bit.ly/4tC79aA

The foodservice industry thrives when people are empowered to bring their ideas, experiences, and identities to the table.

From the dishes we create to the spaces we cultivate, our industry is stronger when people feel free to show up as themselves. This Pride Month—and all year round—we celebrate the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians and the impact they have on the people, culture, and creativity that define our industry.

Cheers to an industry where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.

Restaurants Canada has partnered with Kibbi Technologies Inc. to offer members a streamlined, AI-powered hiring platform that meets youth where they’re at: on their phones. Kibbi connects you directly with pre-screened local talent; no recruiters, no complex systems, no wasted time.

As an RC member, you receive 50% off your first year. Even better, the first 50 operators to register get their entire first-year subscription free. Additionally, Kibbi provides hands-on support to get your profile live and your jobs filled quickly.

Learn more about how you can use Kibbi to engage youth jobseekers here: https://bit.ly/4acmYh9

Measures such as these are not a tax cut on food—they represent a tax shift between competitors that creates winners and losers. If governments want to reduce the cost of food to provide relief for consumers, that relief should apply consistently regardless of where food is purchased.

It’s imperative that we take a strong stand against unfair policies like these that give a competitive advantage to big-box grocers in the name of affordability relief.

Read more from Kelly Higginson's CEO Update here: https://bit.ly/3PVsMVp

From important national advocacy updates to regional developments impacting operators across Canada, Restaurants Canada is committed to keeping members informed with timely, relevant communications. We also share valuable resources, including industry insights, workforce tools, operational best practices, and member-exclusive events and webinars.

To ensure the right people in your organization receive the most relevant updates, we encourage all members to review and update their communication preferences in the Member Portal.

To update your preference, simply log in to your Member Portal account, and click on the 'Update your communication preferences' link under the ‘Quick Actions’ list.

Thank you for staying connected with us as we continue advocating for and supporting Canada’s foodservice industry every day.