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The foodservice industry is a dynamic, innovative and huge sector of the Canadian economy. Every day, millions of consumers, tourists and business travellers enjoy the hospitality provided by Canada’s 80,800 restaurant, cafeteria, snack bar, pub or caterer locations – most of which are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs in communities across the country.
Total foodservice sales grew to more than $60 billion in 2010, representing nearly 4.0% of Canada’s gross domestic product. One of the country’s largest employers, the foodservice industry provides jobs for more than one million Canadians.
Click on the categories below for more information:
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There are 80,800 commercial foodservice units in Canada, or 24.0 units per 10,000 Canadians. By segment, there are:
36,390 full-service restaurants
31,911 limited-service restaurants
6,447 contract and social caterers
6,096 drinking places
Source: CRFA’s
Provincial InfoStats and Statistics Canada
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Fully 64% of restaurants
in Canada are independent
brands. Chain restaurants
account for the remaining 36%, and many of
these are locally owned and operated franchises.
Source: ReCount/NPD Group and CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts
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Looking for more foodservice industry research?
CRFA Members
CRFA publishes a wide range of research reports exclusively for CRFA members.
For more information and to order online, go to CRFA’s online
catalogue.
Not a CRFA Member?
Non-members are invited to purchase CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts magazine,
an annual market review and forecast for the foodservice industry. Or, for
access to CRFA’s full line-up of research reports, click
here to become
a CRFA member. |
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The foodservice industry directly employs more than 1,084,500 Canadians, representing 6.4% of total employment. More people work in foodservice than in agriculture, forestry, pulp and paper, banking and oil and gas extraction combined.
Source: Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada
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The foodservice industry is a major source of entry-level and part-time jobs, and provides nearly 1 in 5 youth jobs in Canada. The industry employs 462,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24, which accounts for 43% of foodservice employees.
Source: Labour Force Survey, Statistics Canada
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According to a survey of 20 national and regional foodservice chains, the average annual turnover rate for an hourly paid employee is 104.8% at a quick-service restaurant and 62.5% at a casual/family dining restaurant.
Source: CRFA’s Chain Compensation Survey 2009 (Note: Full survey results are available only to participating chain restaurant companies. For more information contact research@crfa.ca)
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Looking for more foodservice industry research?
CRFA Members
CRFA publishes a wide range of research reports exclusively for CRFA members.
For more information and to order online, go to CRFA’s online
catalogue.
Not a CRFA Member?
Non-members are invited to purchase CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts magazine,
an annual market review and forecast for the foodservice industry. Or, for
access to CRFA’s full line-up of research reports, click
here to become
a CRFA member. |
|
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The average profit margin for the foodservice industry is just 4.4%. Food costs (35.5%) and labour costs (34.8%) account for the two largest expenses borne by foodservice operators.
Source: CRFA’s Foodservice Operations
Report
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The average foodservice operator realized annual sales of $611,143 in 2009 with a pre-tax profit of $26,890.
Source: CRFA’s Foodservice Operations
Report
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New accommodation and foodservice entrants have a 60% chance of surviving beyond their second year and a 22% chance of surviving beyond eight years.
Source: Statistics Canada
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On a per capita basis, commercial restaurant sales are highest in the provinces where consumers have above-average levels of disposable income and where there is no provincial sales tax on meals. Alberta leads the country in annual per capita foodservice sales with $1,736.85, while Manitoba trails at $1,084.54.
Source: CRFA’s Provincial InfoStats
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Source: Statistics Canada, CRFA's Long Term Forecast and ReCount/NPD Group
Includes full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, caterers and bars.
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Meals and snacks sourced from restaurants
account for 1 in 10 meal occasions.
Source: CREST/NPD Group; NPD
Group Eating Patterns in Canada Report, and CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts
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The average Canadian household spends 23.1% of its total food dollar on foodservice, compared to 41.9% for U.S. households
Source: CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts, Statistics
Canada and the Bureau of Labour
Statistics
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The most popular food and beverage ordered
at Canadian restaurants are French
fries and regular coffee.
Source: CREST/NPD Group and
CRFA’s Foodservice Facts
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The average check size per person at a restaurant is $6.97 including taxes, but excluding tips.
Source: CREST/NPD Group and
CRFA’s Foodservice Facts
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On a typical day, Canadians make 17.7 million visits to commercial restaurants, totaling 6.4 billion restaurant occasions on the year.
Source: CREST/NPD Group
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Looking for more foodservice industry research?
CRFA Members
CRFA publishes a wide range of research reports exclusively for CRFA members.
For more information and to order online, go to CRFA’s online
catalogue.
Not a CRFA Member?
Non-members are invited to purchase CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts magazine,
an annual market review and forecast for the foodservice industry. Or, for
access to CRFA’s full line-up of research reports, click
here to become
a CRFA member. |
|
Market Share Definitions
Commercial Foodservice (79% Market Share)
Operations whose primary business is food and beverage
service.
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Full Service Restaurants (35%):
Includes licensed and unlicensed fine-dining, casual and family restaurants as
well as restaurant-bars. |
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Limited Service Restaurants (34%):
Includes quick-service restaurants, cafeterias, food courts and take-out and
delivery establishments. |
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Social and Contract Caterers (6%):
Includes contract caterers supplying food services to airlines, railways, institutions
and at recreational facilities, as well as social caterers providing food services
for special events. |
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Drinking Places (4%):
Includes bars, taverns, pubs, cocktail lounges and nightclubs primarily engaged
in serving alcoholic beverages for immediate consumption. These establishments
may also provide limited food service. |
Non-Commercial Foodservice (21% Market Share)
Self-operated foodservice in establishments whose
primary business is something other than food and
beverage service. Branded restaurants in any of
these settings are counted in commercial restaurant
sales if they are owned by the restaurant chain.
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Accommodation Foodservice (9%):
Foodservice in hotels, motels and resorts. |
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Institutional Foodservice (6%):
Foodservice in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, prisons, factories,
remote facilities and offices. Includes patient and inmate meals. |
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Retail Foodservice (2%):
Department store cafeterias and restaurants. |
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Other Foodservice (4%):
Includes vending, sports and private clubs, movie theatres, stadiums and other
seasonal or entertainment operations. |
Looking for more foodservice industry research?
CRFA Members
CRFA publishes a wide range of research reports exclusively for CRFA members.
For more information and to order online, go to CRFA’s online
catalogue.
Not a CRFA Member?
Non-members are invited to purchase CRFA’s Foodservice
Facts magazine,
an annual market review and forecast for the foodservice industry. Or, for
access to CRFA’s full line-up of research reports, click
here to become
a CRFA member. |
|
Due to the volume of requests, CRFA is unable to
assist students with foodservice industry projects.
Please browse the CRFA website for information. You
may also do the following:
- Purchase a copy
of Foodservice
Facts magazine at a special
student price of $15 per copy (regular price
is $30 per copy). Online orders are not
eligible for the student discount.
To receive the discount on this publication,
you must place your order by calling
1-800-387-5649, ext. 4215, faxing your
order to 416-923-1450 or emailing research@crfa.ca.
- Purchase commercial foodservice
data directly from the CANSIM database
on the Statistics
Canada website, Tables 355-0006 and 355-0005.
- Visit your school or community library and search food and foodservice industry periodicals.
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