This April, Canadian restaurants welcome patrons back for a #DineInDoOver

As we look toward building back a stronger, more sustainable economy for our post-pandemic future, restaurants have a pivotal role to play. Restaurants and the many small and medium-sized businesses that make up the Canadian foodservice industry are a critical pillar of our culture, economy and local communities. Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the restaurant sector was a $95-billion industry with 1.2 million workers, comprising over 98,000 establishments, contributing 4 per cent of our country’s GDP and serving about 22 million customers every day.

Restaurants are more than just places to eat. They are key to our social well-being, they round out our visits to theatres and sports events, they provide interaction opportunities for business people.

While restaurant operators are innovative and resourceful, the impacts of COVID-19 have stretched their adaptability to the limits: Restaurants Canada estimates that 13,000 Canadian foodservice establishments have already permanently shut down in the wake of the pandemic. This number would be much higher if it weren’t for all levels of government stepping up to provide relief measures over the past two years. Yet still, half of all remaining restaurants continue to be at risk of closing, as lost revenue remains a daily struggle.

With these challenges continuing to loom over the foodservice industry as a whole, this has shown just how resilient restaurateurs are. Though loss has been the raw reality over the last two years, our foodservice and hospitality industry continues to push through – adapting, innovating and managing each challenge as it arises, all driven by the passion for feeding Canadians.

As Restaurants Canada continues to serve as the voice of foodservice in Canada, we know the revival of our industry requires both government and consumer support to ensure doors remain open. This April, Restaurants Canada will call on Canadian consumers and corporations to support restaurants, while having fun and getting back to those moments missed over the past two years with a #DineInDoOver.

The #DineInDoOver, a Canada-wide call to action in support of restaurants, encourages Canadians to come together at their favourite local eateries, for a “redo” of the celebrations that had been placed on hold during the pandemic. Think of this as a national do-over of missed birthdays, first dates, holidays, milestones and corporate celebrations that haven’t been celebrated in their entirety due to lockdowns, restrictions and closures. Our hope is for Canadians to regain the benefits of in-person connection, catch up on those missed moments, all while supporting the revival of the restaurant industry.

One of the biggest challenges restaurateurs will continue to face as we move past the pandemic is debt. According to the latest industry survey conducted by Restaurants Canada in February: Eight out of 10 foodservice operations have taken on debt due to COVID-19; at least two-thirds of these businesses will need more than a year and a half to recoup their losses, with 38 per cent reporting that they may never be able to recover what they lost during the pandemic if conditions don’t sufficiently change for the better.

Over the past two years, Canada’s restaurants have weathered repeated waves of dining closures, COVID-19-driven supply chain disruptions and an unprecedented level of staffing shortages. Even as foodservice sales slowly return to pre-pandemic levels, the costs of operating a restaurant continue to skyrocket. Being able to run a profitable foodservice business has gone from tough to nearly impossible.

With the support of Canadian consumers, Restaurants Canada will continue to call for a “do no harm” approach to any new government policies impacting foodservice operations over the next few years.

Beyond revitalizing main streets from coast to coast to coast with the hustle and bustle of dining traffic, the successful revival of Canada’s restaurant industry is essential for the wide variety of businesses that make up the foodservice supply chain. Restaurateurs work closely with Canadian farmers to bring local food to the table, typically spending $31-billion per year on food and beverage purchases. Restaurants are not only vital to the livelihoods of Canadian food and beverage producers, but also to distributors, truckers and other essential food supply chain workers, sustaining more than 290,000 indirect jobs beyond the foodservice sector.

It’s time for our nation to get back to the moments we’ve missed in a safe way, and back to benefiting from in-person communication and connection. Join the conversation by sharing your own #DineInDoOver using the hashtag on social media.

Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing the potential of Canada’s diverse and dynamic foodservice industry through member programs, research, advocacy, resources and events. Before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Canada’s foodservice sector was a $95-billion industry, directly employing 1.2 million people, providing Canada’s number one source of first jobs and serving 22 million customers across the country every day. The industry has since lost hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in sales due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Restaurants make up a critical pillar of Canada’s economy and are essential to reviving our local communities

95 cents of every dollar spent in Canadian restaurants goes back into the economy through food, beverage and packaging purchases, salaries, rent, utilities, service providers and advertising

8 of 10 foodservice operations have taken on debt due to COVID-19; at least 2/3 of these businesses will need more than 1.5 years to recoup their losses

#DineInDoOver Support the foodservice and hospitality industry, and celebrate your milestones from the past 2 years

CATALYZING REVIVAL

From May 9 to 11, Restaurants Canada will be hosting the RC Show 2022, Canada’s leading foodservice and hospitality trade show. RC Show 2022 will reunite the industry and prepare businesses for their revival through a dynamic hybrid event. This action-packed, three-day event provides access to the industry’s top brands and suppliers as well as national and global thought leaders who will address key issues, all in support of reviving of the industry.

For more information, visit https://www.rcshow.com, or follow the conversation on social: #RCShow @RestaurantsCanada

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CATALYZING REVIVAL

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