Survey suggests Canadians unsatisfied with food service industry

A recent survey suggests that less than 30 per cent of Canadians are satisfied when going out to eat at a restaurant lately, as increasing food expenses and operational costs continue to taunt the industry.

The Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Halifax’s Dalhousie University, in collaboration with Caddle, conducted a survey of 5,521 Canadians to gauge how inflation is affecting the food service sector.

The survey found that a majority of respondents were unimpressed with dining experiences over the past year, as only 29.5 per cent expressed being either very satisfied or satisfied based on the money they spent on their meal.

A whopping 68.2 per cent of Canadians have noticed a decrease in portion sizes compared to a year ago, a practice known as “shrinkflation.”

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Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, said the current level of satisfaction expressed by Canadians who visit restaurants is alarmingly low.

“Expectations have clearly changed. This survey underscores the profound impact that rising menu prices and food inflation are having on Canadian consumers’ dining habits,” Charlebois said.

“It’s a wake-up call for the entire restaurant industry, signalling the need for innovative strategies to adapt to these changing consumer preferences and economic challenges.”

The industry group Restaurants Canada says 51 per cent of restaurants in Canada operate at a loss as they struggle to accommodate rising expenses.

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This marks a substantial increase compared to before the pandemic when the number was just 12 per cent.

Many Canadians have also observed a decline in service quality at restaurants, likely attributed to staffing challenges.

The survey says 84.2 per cent of Canadians have become notably more selective when choosing a restaurant, with 89.7 per cent becoming more budget-conscious compared to a year ago.