Lockdowns may be over as pandemic measures relax, but Canada’s restaurants face an uphill battle to recovery. Two years of restrictions, a labour shortage, and a looming recession have put enormous strain on the restaurant industry, with an estimated 13,000 foodservice businesses closing their doors since March 2020.
These are uncertain times for the Canadian restaurant industry and, without a crystal ball, it’s hard to know what’s on the horizon. In the short-term, the outlook is mixed. While restrictions are easing across the country and staff are returning, rising costs and wary customers mean it won’t be business as usual.
The food industry is proving remarkably resilient despite the challenges of the pandemic, according to a recent report from safety specialists Steritech. It highlights how restaurants have integrated COVID-19 compliance into their day to day operations.
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COVID-19 has had a crippling effect on the foodservice industry, forcing many businesses to close permanently or shift to models that focus heavily on delivery and outdoor dining. Prior to the pandemic, the foodservice industry directly employed over 1.2 million Canadians who served nearly 22 million people each and every day.
With the COVID-19 pandemic having no clear end in sight, many areas are beginning to enforce strict mask policies that apply to people spending time indoors, especially when social distancing may not be possible.
The “new normal” is something you’ve probably heard bandied about more than you can count. From our work lives to our social lives, every aspect of what we once thought of as day-to-day life has changed since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and there’s no end in sight. While this same thing can be said for every industry, it’s especially true for the restaurant industry. The idea of upholding social distancing protocols has changed everything for restaurants, who for the time being have been forced to serve customers outside of their usual facilities, offer their services via delivery, or drastically reduce the number of customers allowed inside.
The COVID-19 pandemic has left a permanent mark on the food service industry, affecting every facet of the way we once conducted business and forcing establishments to rapidly innovate. One of the most notable victims of COVID-19’s effect on food service is the self-serve buffet restaurant. The future of the buffet has been speculated on by industry experts everywhere - the COVID-19 virus is extremely contagious, making the future of these once favourite restaurants extremely uncertain. Have we seen the end of the buffet restaurant, or will these businesses be able to survive thanks to innovation and the implementation of COVID protocols?
Wearing masks has been shown to be an important component in the fight to reduce the spread of COVID-19, prompting municipal governments to adopt mask policies in order for people to continue enjoying some semblance of normalcy. Like many things, wearing a mask has become a source of controversy, sparking widespread debates about freedom and social responsibility. While enforcing a mask policy may not always be the popular option for businesses, it’s an undeniably important part of your risk management policy.
Businesses around the world are currently experiencing one of the toughest challenges they’ll ever face - maintaining and regaining customer trust in the midst of a pandemic. With the threat of COVID-19 transmission looming, businesses are being forced to juggle the issue of how to protect employees and customers while staying open and trying to turn a profit.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the foodservice industry is forced to adapt in order to survive unpredictable times. New practices and processes are being adopted by restaurants to protect food handlers and customers from COVID-19. With the reopening of the country seemingly on the horizon, it is critical that the foodservice industry take appropriate measures to continue protecting those that rely on it the most.