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Play of the Week #5

Play of the Week #5

By Marcello Vecchio

Teamwork in times of Distress

As we enter the 1-year anniversary of the beginning of lockdowns in Ontario, there has been an opportunity to reflect on what strategies have allowed food retail and hospitality businesses to stay afloat and continue offering services to their community. One of the most encouraging strategies was the spirit of collaboration between businesses. FRESHER has documented several examples of how local vendors have been teaming up to sell or promote each other’s products to their individual customer base. Although not a new concept, the importance of these collaborations has been showcased during the past 12 months.

One simple partnership took place in London, where a local formalwear seller offered a discount of up to $250 on suit purchases when a receipt from any downtown restaurant was shown. An owner of a downtown restaurant said that this example was one of many that he had noticed. During these times, many businesses have chosen to work together instead of trying to survive alone. He also noted that many of his customers specifically requested receipts to take advantage of this promotion.

Another example of collaboration was in Thunder Bay, where local sports bars have coordinated their beer deliveries together so they can cut back on costs and still provide consumers with the specialized beers they enjoy. Additionally, Sleeping Giant Brewery Company in Thunder Bay promoted their yearly “Craft Cares” promotion, which donated $0.50 from every product sold to local organizations, among them being local restaurants which they credit as part of the success of their brand.

These are just a few examples of the resiliency through collaboration at the business level offering mutual benefit and success for all parties involved. COVID-19 has clearly showed us that mitigating the impacts of the pandemic, whether it be health or economic, is an all-hands-on deck issue.

Resources

Business Resiliency Advice
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/01/industrys-resilience-with-food-safety-practices-will-be-crucial-in-2021/

Digital Main Streets Program
https://programs.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere-signup

Find your Local BIA
https://obiaa.com/members

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

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Play of the Week #4

Play of the Week #4

By Rebecca Clarke

Meal Kits

Meal kit delivery services have been growing in popularity throughout the course of the pandemic. The current situation has resulted in more time being spent cooking at home rather than eating out at restaurants. Cooking fatigue has set in for many people and as a result they have been searching for ways to get reinspired in the kitchen. Meal kits are a great solution, as they allow you to learn new recipes, get creative in the kitchen, shorten meal preparation time, and eliminate time spent at the grocery store. Additionally, the instructions are easy to follow, and the ingredients are high-quality. Restaurants all over Canada have also been taking advantage of the meal kit business model. Restaurant meal kits allow customers to receive ingredients that they can use to make fresh meals that are almost identical to what they would receive at a restaurant. So instead of ordering a meal kit in the mail, reach out to a local restaurant in the community to create that experience you may have been missing at home!

Resource Links 

How to start a meal kit service – https://www.dailykit.org/5-steps-to-start-a-meal-kit-service#step_1_get_operation_ready

Meal kits in Canada, 2021 Comparison – https://mealkitscanada.ca/

Toronto Restaurants Offering Ready-To-Make Meals and DIY Kits – https://www.tastetoronto.com/guides/toronto-restaurants-offering-ready-to-make-meals-and-diy-kits

Restaurant franchise systems – Tips for pivoting your business model to focus on delivery and take-out during dine-in prohibitions – https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=ab29c7b3-f2f4-4dfd-8476-e3c49e168427

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

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Deep Dish #8: Restaurant Design & COVID-19: Designing for Tomorrow

Deep Dish #8: Restaurant Design & COVID-19: Designing for Tomorrow 

By Rebecca Clarke

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Throughout history, the way we design our physical spaces and how we deal with epidemics have had an influence on each other. The cholera epidemics in many cities in the United States in the 19th century, brought about urban design interventions such as wide-ranging public parks, spacious boulevards, and standardized city-wide sewage systems (2). Additionally, tuberculosis epidemics in Europe prompted the birth of modernist architecture. The design of sanatoriums with long walls of extensive windows, light-coloured rooms, and roof terraces were considered part of the cure for the disease, as bacteria was thought to thrive in dark rooms (1). 

The COVID-19 pandemic is influencing the future of architectural and interior design as fear of contracting the virus controls our level comfortability with indoor space.  Architects and interior designers will need to consider changing health and safety regulations, air flow, and technology that can help improve customer confidence in restaurants (6). Throughout the course of the pandemic, Business Improvement Areas have sought out these professionals to help them find ways to eventually get people back to the main streets to support local businesses and the local economy.  

Making the most out of outdoor and open plan space has become one of the most crucial moves that restaurant operators can make right now. Customers are more willing to visit a restaurant if they can dine outdoors in the fresh air, where the COVID-19 virus is less likely to be spread from one person to another (3). In places like Toronto, regulations have prohibited restaurants from offering indoor dining for most of 2020 and now well into 2021. This  spurred the City of Toronto to pass bylaws allowing restaurants to extend their patios onto sidewalks when permitted in the reopening phases. The restaurant industry has learned the importance of outdoor dining during this time and the importance of making these spaces just as appealing as indoor dining spaces (6).  

Interview insights…

“We have a program in place called CaféTO which is an awesome initiative put in place by the City to help create more outdoor space for restaurants and bars in Toronto. The program allows these businesses to convert sidewalks into patios at no cost.” – Property Developer, September 1st

“The big change for us, we’ve seen, is in social distancing. So, in addition to the takeout shop, we’re also opening a new restaurant and bar as well, in the adjoining building to us. We’re actually building the restaurant and the seating plan for it to be six feet apart. We know that people aren’t going to go sit on top of each other anymore once this is over. Those days are gone. So, we are focusing on that in a big way and I think that will become the norm going forward.” – Restaurant in Wellington County, ON, March 2021

A restaurant in Amsterdam created a number of mini greenhouses along the canal that allows groups of up to four people to dine in an outdoor setting without coming into contact with other customers (3). The restaurant’s website states, “Enjoy a corona-proof dinner in an intimate greenhouse” (5). The servers use long wooden boards to bring out the food, so that they never have to enter the private greenhouse (5). Also, Trestle Brewery in Parry Sound, with the help of Parry Sound Community Business Development Centre, has increased their outdoor seating by installing one 10-person yurt and four 8-person domes (7). These yurts and domes are heated allowing them to be used throughout the winter months (7).  

Interview insights…

“We offer a number of façade grants that we have been seeing businesses take advantage of during the pandemic. Some people used the grant to increase social-distancing signage and others used it to create large windows that open so that they could bring the outdoors, indoors in the summers.” – Industry Professional, November 30th

In terms of the future of restaurant design, architects and designers should also rethink circulation. One-way circulation systems that allow customers to flow in a single direction minimize risk of them coming into contact with each other (2). This could mean having one door designated to entering the restaurant and another door for leaving the restaurant. Additionally, double food production lines are quickly becoming a staple in many kitchens. One line is assigned to dine-in orders and another one is assigned to take-out only orders. Starbird, a fast-food chain in the United States, has built pick-up cubbies at the end of the take-out only production line (4). These cubbies could easily be incorporated in more traditional restaurants and they could even become more elaborate by incorporating heating and lock technology (4). The external design of restaurants is also expected to become more important. For example, more parking spaces are likely to be designated for curbside pick-up and we could even see fine dining restaurants adding drive-thru options (4). For those who have spent times in UK pubs, table-side service may become just as irregular to find here in Canada. 

Interview Insights…

“We are seeing a lot more ghost kitchens popping up and restaurants are utilizing delivery more than ever before.” – Industry Professional, September 1st

The restaurant industry is quickly changing and with that the design of restaurants is also changing. Restaurants are evolving to meet customer needs with temporary solutions such as plexiglass between booths and longer-term investments that include a complete redesign of enclosed spaces. Overall, the role of design and architecture within the restaurant industry is becoming more prevalent than ever before.     

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

References

  1. Chayka, K. (2020, July 17). How the Coronavirus Will Reshape Architecture. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/culture/dept-of-design/how-the-coronavirus-will-reshape-architecture
  2. Ghersi, A. & Gevorkyan, A. (2020, September 30). How Will COVID-19 Shape Hospitality Architecture and Design. Gensler. Retrieved from https://www.gensler.com/research-insight/blog/how-will-covid-19-shape-hospitality-architecture-and-design
  3. Itzkowitz, L. (2020, July 7). How Restaurant Design Is Changing As a Result of COVID-19. Architectural Digest. Retrieved from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/restaurant-design-covid-19
  4. Levin, A. (2020, May 12). Designing Restaurants in a Post-Pandemic World. Restaurant Development + Design. Retreived from https://rddmag.com/design/3089-designing-restaurants-in-a-post-pandemic-world
  5. Mediamatic ETEN: Our Serres. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.mediamatic.net/en/page/377850/serres-s%C3%A9par%C3%A9es-%E2%80%93-reservations
  6. Ritz, J. (2020, December 22). 7 Ways COVID-19 Continues to Impact Hospitality Design. Architectural Digest. Retrieved from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/7-ways-covid-19-continues-to-impact-hospitality-design
  7. Trestle Brewing Company. (2020). Retrieved from https://trestlebrewing.com/products/yurt-dining?variant=37633369014446
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Play of the Week #3

Play of the Week #3

By Rebecca Clarke

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

Walk down any main street in Ontario and you will find businesses that have boarded up their windows. These closed businesses are often located right next to businesses that continue to operate during the pandemic. In several cases, businesses have been able to remain open because they have responded to the pandemic situation with creativity and flexibility. Creative responses could be anything from a change in product offerings to altering their entire business model. For example, pizzerias such as Chef Bondi Pizzeria in St. Thomas, Ontario have created make-your-own-pizza kits with dough, cheese, tomato sauce and other toppings as a fun product for customers to make on their own time at home. Additionally, a restaurant owner in Vancouver decided to add a European-style market section to his tapas restaurant. He has continued to sell grocery items such as olives, cheese, almonds, rice, tinned fish and liquor even after the restaurant was allowed to reopen, as it has become an additional revenue stream to his main business. Throughout the pandemic, business owners have been coming up with creative ideas that they are putting into action with great success.

Interview insights…

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we created a grocery-style delivery service where we delivered fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats like chicken and pork and premade food every Saturday. We are basically running four different business models and seeing which one is the best to go with.” – Restaurant Owner, July 21st 2020

Resource Links 

A look at pandemic-era restaurant innovation: https://www6.royalbank.com/en/di/hubs/tech-and-culture/article/for-restaurants-uncertainty-fuels-innovation/kedfihj0

How restaurants are innovating during the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.forbes.com/sites/eveturowpaul/2020/03/22/how-restaurants-innovating-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/?sh=5c2413362c2b

How restaurants are adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.restaurantscanada.org/resources/down-but-not-out-how-restaurants-are-adapting-to-the-covid19-pandemic/

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

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Deep Dish #7: Restaurants & The Era of Technology

Deep Dish #7: Restaurants & The Era of Technology 

By Rebecca Clarke

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The role of technology in the restaurant industry has become ever more apparent in recent months. Restaurant owners have placed increased attention on adopting new technologies to meet customer needs, cut costs, and increase efficiency (6). However, as the pandemic continues to impact this industry, restaurant owners are turning to more innovative technologies that can help to keep their businesses open.

Interview insights…

“There have been some positives to come out of the pandemic. It pushed us to move into the digital space, which we weren’t doing before.” – Restaurant Owner, November 25th

One of the ways that restaurants in Ontario are embracing new technologies is through ‘virtual/ghost kitchens’. These refer to food preparation spaces that only serve take-out and delivery products. These kitchens are changing the game in the restaurant industry because they allow restaurants to eliminate rental costs associated with operating a highly visible storefront and dining room (6). The virtual/ghost kitchen concept relies on online ordering and third-party delivery services (4). With the increased interest in food delivery and the concerns that consumers have with dining in restaurants, ghost kitchens are rising in popularity all over Ontario.

Interview insights…

“There was a restaurant space we had in mind on the west side of Toronto, the location wasn’t great, it wasn’t on a Main Street. We just completed a ghost kitchen deal there like two weeks ago. That particular group partners with a bunch of different restaurants across the city to produce food that goes out for delivery. This is a trend that absolutely makes sense and we’re going to see a lot more of it.” – Restaurant Industry Professional, September 1st

Interview Insights…

“At the beginning of the pandemic, it was just takeout and delivery. Even now most of our sales come from takeout and delivery.” – Restaurant Owner, November 23rd

Another technological change that is being quickly adopted by restaurants in Ontario is digital payment. A 2020 survey by Travis Credit Union found that 50% of those surveyed have less cash on them than prior to the pandemic (3). Also, three in five people, don’t believe that they will go back to using cash regularly when the pandemic is over (3). It is believed that paper currency may increase the chances for the virus to be spread from one person to another. Therefore, many restaurants have introduced ‘no cash’ policies to lessen the risk of infection for customers and employees (2). Due the COVID-19 pandemic, digital payment options such as smartphone-based payments and Tap n’ Go are being adopted by restaurants in Ontario at a rate much higher than in the past.

Virtual menus have also been on the rise as physical menus can pass through many hands at a restaurant, increasing the chances for the virus to be spread. Although many restaurants have strict policies in place to clean menus, in most cases this is not enough to make customers feel comfortable (2). This is why many restaurants have made the switch to using digital menus that can be viewed on any mobile device when a QR code is scanned with their phone’s camera (1). This option not only meets customer needs but also cuts the costs of having to print physical menus.

Screens within the kitchen and dining area is also a trend that is rising in popularity. Kitchen screens can speed up the time it takes to prepare orders and limit the passing of paper from one hand to the next. Table/reservation management systems also increase efficiency by freeing up employee time, reducing customer wait times and limiting employee and customer contact (5). Self-ordering kiosks, such as the ones used at many fast-food outlets over the last few years, are also being quickly adopted by more traditional restaurants.

Restaurant operators need to make sure that they are meeting consumer preferences now more than ever. The attention that is currently being placed on health and safety could push the industry into a new era (5). Within the current climate, restaurant operators need to not only make speed and convenience a focal point, but also health and safety. Technology solutions that allow operators to meet the needs of their customers by serving them remotely and offering touchless ordering options are key to the survival of the industry during the pandemic.

Interview insights…

“It doesn’t matter what type of business you have you just have to pivot. You know, this ain’t basketball we are playing. We’re playing with grenades and live ammo – it is warfare. It’s unfortunate but that’s the reality.” – Café Owner, November 23rd

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

References

  1. Eatsee. (2020). Feast your eyes one the future of menus. Retrieved from https://eatsee.menu  
  2. Industry Today. 2020, June 15). Restaurant Technology during COVID-19. Retrieved from  https://industrytoday.com/restaurant-technology-during-covid-19/
  3. Krook, D. (2020). The Ultimate Guide to Payment Processing for Restaurants. Touch Bistro. Retrieved from https://www.touchbistro.com/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-payment-processing-for-restaurants/  
  4. Olson, A. (2019, October 21). The rise of ‘ghost kitchens’: Here’s what the online food ordering boom has produced. USA Today. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2019/10/21/ghost-kitchen-virtual-restaurant-heres-how-works/4053659002/
  5. The National Law Review. (2020, July 14). How Restaurants Could Use Advanced Tech to Survive the Pandemic and Beyond. Retrieved from https://www.natlawreview.com/article/how-restaurants-could-use-advanced-tech-to-survive-pandemic-and-beyond  
  6. Wiles, R. (2020, October 19). Robot cooks and virtual kitchens: How the restaurant industry looks to technology for help. Azcentral. Retrieved from https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/tech/2020/10/19/restaurants-turn-technology-help-industry-suffers-crisis/3625327001/  
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Deep Dish #6: COVID-19 Restrictions on the Retail Food and Hospitality Industry

Deep Dish #6:COVID-19 Restrictions on the Retail Food and Hospitality Industry

By Alexander Wray

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created a constantly shifting landscape of rules and regulations for the food retail and hospitality industry in Ontario. Given the need to rapidly respond to the virus, the Province of Ontario has adopted a flexible model to enable the resumption of most economic activity.

Early in the pandemic, the province established a three-stage system of restrictions that were implemented in consultation with local public health units. Stage 1 rules were the strictest with restaurants, bars, and other hospitality only being able to operate in a takeout and delivery model. Grocery stores and other food and beverage retail were limited in their capacity. Stage 2 rules relaxed restrictions on retail capacity, and allowed many restaurants and cafes to reopen with patio-only service. Stage 3 finally allowed many establishments reopen for indoor service.

Interview insights…

Owner: “I’ve got an emergency plan and a pandemic plan. Got everything in place. Different plans, actually, for one I open as well, and it’s quite detailed.”

Interviewer: “And is that the one provided by the province?”

Owner: “No… there was a [provincial] guideline that was pretty flimsy… I work in emergency management, that’s my background… they’re taking all our business away” – Restaurant Owner, June 18th

Amendments to the Reopening Ontario Act in October 2020 introduced a new colour-coded response framework to provide a visual cue of the active rules and restrictions (Figure 1). There are five levels to the response system, assigned at a regional level by the local public health unit:
• Prevent (Green): Minimal restrictions
• Protect (Yellow): Limits on operating hours, limits on serving alcohol, 6 maximum to a table, and contact tracing for all visitors
• Restrict (Orange): Further limits on operating hours and serving alcohol, 4 maximum to a table, and contact tracing for all visitors
• Control (Red): Outdoor dining permitted, maximum of 10 seated indoors, no live performances or dancing
• Lockdown (Grey): Takeout and delivery service only

Currently, Toronto and Peel remain in lockdown (grey), with much of the Greater Toronto Area in control (red), and the rest of the province in either restrict (orange) or protect (yellow) levels of restrictions. The only prevent (green) zones are: Algoma, Cochrane, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Renfrew, and Timiskaming.

These varying operating conditions have forced many restaurants and other food-based hospitality entities to pivot to alternative business models such as offering new products, digitizing their business, adding a retail component to their operations, or operating only on takeout and delivery regardless of the pandemic condition. Some even are establishing their own “circuit breakers” to preemptively shutdown or scale back their operations based on the restrictions. For example, a popular Kitchener pub in November chose to close their doors preemptively when Waterloo Region was designated a red zone (source).

Interview insights…

“At full seating capacity, we had an occupancy of 28 café tables spread throughout… when this all hit we closed our storefront. We were only through pre-order, so can either order it for pickups or let us know you were here so we would run it out to a table we had waiting that was right on the sidewalk… We are seeing the same spend pre-COVID versus post-COVID, it is just an increase in foot traffic because we worked as hard as we did to become accessible, even in a time where nobody wanted to be out and about.” – Pastry Shop, August 5th

The new pandemic restrictions may provide clarity for businesses on their operating conditions. However, without projections of the timeline to return to orange, yellow, or green conditions, many operators report frustration in planning for their business. In addition, the overhead costs associated with contact tracing leave many in the hospitality industry frustrated given the same standards are not applied to food retailers (Figure 2). Moreover, cyclical lockdowns and red zone designations often renders many investments in personal protective equipment and infrastructure to enable indoor dining as ineffective in supporting business success. Given the pandemic situation will likely still be of serious concern in 2021, improvement of Ontario’s reopening framework should be a priority for supporting the Ontario food retail and hospitality industry.

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

References

  1. Government of Ontario. (2020). Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act. Retrieved from https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/20r17
  2. Government of Ontario. (2020). O.Reg. 263/20: Rules for Areas in Stage 2. Retrieved from: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200263
  3. Government of Ontario. (2020). Map of COVID-19 Zones: December 8, 2020. https://www.ontario.ca/page/covid-19-response-framework-keeping-ontario-safe-and-open
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Play of the Week #2

Play of the Week #2

By Rebecca Clarke

Adapt to Survive

One of the hardest hit industries by the COVID-19 pandemic has been the retail food and hospitality industry. Many business owners within this industry have been forced to adapt their operating models to stay open. These adaptations include asking staff to learn new skills and cross-train between different front of house and back of house roles, adopting new technologies, increasing online presence, introducing contactless payment options, adding new revenue streams (i.e. selling pre-packaged products), offering takeout and delivery, instituting new safety measures, and altering menu offerings. It is important to keep in mind that once emergency measures are lifted across Ontario, it will not be back to business as usual. Thus, in most cases, the businesses that are going to survive this pandemic are the ones that are willing to continually adapt to shifting consumer preferences and changing government restrictions.

Interview insights…

“I’ll give you an example, scones were my biggest seller, everyone would come in for a coffee and a scone between 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. I completely took scones off my menu list about a month ago because I kept making them and just throwing them out as no one was buying them. It’s just because the demographic has changed.” – Café Owner, November 12th

Resource Links 

Guidelines on how restaurants and cafés can adapt to the pandemic from Facebook for Business:
https://www.facebook.com/business/small-business/resource/restaurants

Mainstreet Recovery Plan:
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58708/ontario-supports-small-main-street-businesses-with-60-million-in-funding-through-ppe-grant

Restaurant and food services health and safety during COVID-19:
https://www.ontario.ca/page/restaurant-and-food-services-health-and-safety-during-covid-19

Tips on bringing contactless experiences to your restaurant: 
https://www.ncr.com/blogs/restaurants/what-is-contactless-and-how-can-i-offer-it-to-my-restaurant-guests

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

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Deep Dish #5: Winter Patios

Deep Dish #5: Winter Patios

By Marcello Vecchio

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Winter is coming, and in some cities of the Great White North, it is already here! For many Canadians, the cold weather signals a time to put away the outdoor furniture, get the snow shovels out of storage, and stay indoors as much as possible. This year, the continuing waves of COVID-19 will make staying-in even more favourable. For restaurateurs however, this is just more bad news in a year that seems to keep bringing mounting challenges. When initial lockdown measures were loosened in May and June of 2020, patio and outdoor dining became the lifeline for many establishments that were teetering on financial failure.

Interview insights…

A pub in London, Ontario described how regulatory changes allowed their patio to be expanded into their parking lot and utilize space that usually sat empty. The increased patio size allowed for employees to be hired back and service to continue at sustainable levels. “It was huge for us, customers finally felt safe to come eat and have a drink outside.”

Indeed, many cities raced to cut the red tape it took to open or expand a patio, knowing that they were a safe and easy measure to keep the industry alive (1). In late spring and early autumn many patrons were willing to dress for the weather so they could enjoy their favourite pint and meal outside; however, asking people to dine outside when it is twenty below may bring mostly cold stares, even from the most seasoned wintery Canadians. Many cities have extended patio seasons to cover the winter months (2), and many businesses have responded by buying up patio heaters and propane fireplaces in the attempt to get a few more weeks out of their patios. These, however, are short-term solutions.

Interview insights…

One individual in the restaurant industry stated that she is grateful that the City of Waterloo has allowed them to extend their outdoor patio until the end of the year. Along with the purchase of heaters, she is hoping this will attract people to the restaurant in the cooler months.  

To survive as an industry, it will take more than heaters, tarps, and blankets. Both businesses and communities need to be creative. Luckily, Canadians are not novices when it comes to adapting to winter. Organizing activities around the colder months is a fact of life for many Canadians. Ironically, many people flock to ‘winter cities’ such as Ottawa, Edmonton, Montreal, and Quebec City to take part in outdoor winter festivals and markets. Runny noses and red cheeks are small prices to pay for a warm Beaver Tail after a cold skate on the Rideau Canal, or the sticky sweet goodness of tire d’érable during winter carnival in Québec City.  These Canadian traditions raise the question, why can’t we capitalize on Winter instead of trying to fight it?

Out in the frozen west, cities like Edmonton, Winnipeg and Calgary have led the charge in creative ways to winterize outdoor dining. Edmonton specifically, has been working on ‘embracing the chill’ since 2017. Many establishments have installed heaters, outdoor grills, wood fires, and changed menus to better suit the weather (3). The city has provided detailed guides on how to design four season patios, focusing on solar access, awnings, providing blankets, heating sources, and using insulated furniture (4). Additionally, some businesses around the country are installing bubble structures or ‘dining igloos’ that segregate private dining groups and protect patrons from the elements, but some have raised the concern that the difference between these and indoor dining is negligible in terms of limiting the spread of COVID and in some cases, have even been shut down by health officials (5).

Interview insights…

A restaurant in Collingwood, Ontario described when they were allowed to open their patio in early summer of 2020, they had initial success, “we were beating our monthly sales from the year before with just our patio when we opened.” However, they were worried about continuing this into the colder months. “We have patio heaters, we have had them for a long time, and they were definitely helpful in November, but the concern is when temperatures really drop.”

However, if cases are locally stabilized and health protocols are followed, COVID-safe winter festivals or open markets may be a perfect way for communities to gather safely over the winter months. By utilizing empty parking lots, city parks, or fair grounds, cities can organize safe outdoor food and drink festivals, skate-up markets, and travelling food truck meetups that get people outside and allow businesses to continue to operate. Cities that are fortunate to already have winter recreation facilities like outdoor rinks, ski hills, and winter trails can further capitalize by integrating food and drink options where it is safe to do so.  

The potential success for all these ideas hinges on our ability to keep cases down, and follow the rules of local health authorities. The recent move back into a lockdown scenario for some large cities, makes the idea of investing in costly components to winterize patios unfeasible for many locations (6). One restaurant in Toronto purchased 10 mini greenhouses for $1000/each back in October, but now with in-person dining banned again, this $10,000 investment does not seem to be paying off (7). However, if cases stabilize and outdoor dining is deemed safe to continue, some businesses will be able to slow down the financial hemorrhaging during a time they usually counted on in the past with holiday parties and family outings. Further, the investment into winterized patios is not a COVID-only investment. Even when things return to ‘normal,’ whatever that turns out to be, local governments and community organizations should continue to push for winterizing their cities. Improving outdoor spaces and integrating them with the food retail sector will reap rewards in all four seasons of the year.

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

References

  1. Bicknell, B. (2020, June 12). Restaurant patios back in business in London. CTV News. Retrieved from https://london.ctvnews.ca
  2. City of Toronto News Release (2020, October 27). City Council approves extended winter patio program for curbside cafes and expanded private patios. City of Toronto. Retrieved from https://www.toronto.ca/news
  3. City of Edmonton (2020). Winter Patios. Winter City Edmonton. Retrieved from https://www.wintercityedmonton.ca/be-social/winter-patios-2/
  4. City of Edmonton (2017). Four Seasons Patio Design Tips. Winter City Edmonton. Retrieved from https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/all-season-patio-design-tips.pdf
  5. Warzecha, M. (2020, November 4). Bubble Trouble: Are dining domes safe? Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved from https://ottawacitizen.com/
  6. News Staff (2020, November 20). Toronto and Peel moving back into lockdown on Monday: Ford. City News Toronto. Retrieved from https://toronto.citynews.ca
  7. Canadian Press (2020, October 21). Restaurants doubt winter patios will save industry. Orangeville. Retrieved from https://www.orangeville.com
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Play of the Week #1

Play of the Week #1

By Rebecca Clarke

It’s time to get online!

With constantly changing COVID-19 rules, it is increasingly important for the retail food and hospitality industry, particularly restaurants, to get online. Digitalizing your business can help to increase awareness of your services, streamline the ordering process, build your brand, increase sales and more. Some ways to increase your online presence include creating a website, getting on social media, offering digital gift cards, and joining a local, app-based delivery service or pooling resources to create your own delivery service. The food retail and hospitality industry is constantly changing and the investment into digitalizing your business is one that can reap benefits even after the pandemic.

Interview insights…

The owner of a café in downtown London stated that back in March they made the decision to create an online delivery service and that they were grateful for this because they were able to tap into this service when they reopened their business.   

Resource Links 

Programs offered through the Digital Main Street platform: 
https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/57172/ontario-and-canada-helping-small-businesses-go-digital

ShopHERE: Powered by Google:
https://programs.digitalmainstreet.ca/shophere-signup

Future Proof:
https://digitalmainstreet.ca/futureproof/  

Montreal local delivery service:
https://radish.coop/en 

Ottawa local delivery service:
https://responsiblechoice.ca/lovelocaldelivery/

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

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Deep Dish #4

Deep Dish #4

Food Delivery: The 2020 David vs. Goliath Story

By Rebecca Clarke

?️ Printer-friendly version

Restaurants have been one of the hardest hit sectors of Ontario’s economy by the COVID-19 pandemic. Uncertainty around public health directives, restrictions on indoor dining, and changing consumer perceptions and spending behaviours have caused many restaurant owners to pivot their entire business models to stay open. One of the most common pivots is to focus attention and resources on offering delivery.

Interview insights…

An employee in the restaurant industry in London stated that he knows of many restaurants that were not as reliant on food delivery in the past but started taking advantage of it once the pandemic hit.

Common third-party food delivery services in Canada include Uber Eats, DoorDash and Skip the Dishes. These delivery services take around a 30% commission on each order, decreasing already tight profit margins for many restaurants (4). The province has requested third-party delivery services to eliminate commission rates for cities in Ontario that have been forced into a red or gray designation, but so far there has been no formal response (3).

Interview insights…

The owner of an artisanal bakery in London noted that switching from making deliveries himself to using a third-party delivery service was a hard decision. He stated that he wanted to reach a wider audience, especially young people, but Uber Eats takes a big chunk of his sales – 20-30%.

Many of the third-party delivery platforms have offered restaurants some form of ‘financial break’ during the pandemic (2). Uber Eats has announced that they have lowered their delivery-only fee to 7.5% until the end of the year for restaurants that are able to process the order themselves and only need the delivery service (4). Additionally, DoorDash waived delivery fees in Toronto, Mississauga and Ottawa from October 10th until November 6th and Skip the Dishes announced that they will be offering a 25% rebate program to help local businesses (4). However, these offers of ‘financial breaks’ to restaurants are of marginal help in the overall landscape of pandemic-based delivery services.

Thus, it is no surprise that the industry is slowly shifting away from being ‘third-party dependent’ to being more self-sufficient (6). There is a clear shift in consumer attitudes towards third-party delivery services as many people would prefer to order directly from restaurants so that the restaurant receives 100% of the profits (6). Additionally, several new local delivery alternatives have been popping up all over Canada. Ambassador, known as the ‘Shopify for restaurants’, was an app recently developed to empower restaurants to accept online orders for pick-up and delivery with zero commissions or fees (1). Instead of taking a commission on every order, Ambassador charges a flat rate fee of $99.00 per month (4). The service has been successful so far with more than 150 restaurants signing up in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Winnipeg (4).

Radish is another example of a local delivery app that was created in Montreal with the intention of eventually replacing the third-party model controlled by the existing food delivery giants (6). The cooperative model of Radish seeks to develop more equitable relationships between local restaurants, drivers, and consumers. Additionally, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association and a partner are in the process of creating a delivery service that takes only 9.5% commission fees and pays drivers as employees rather than independently contracting out drivers, who make marginal wages without benefits (7). This service was another one that was created out of the frustration with the third-party delivery model.

Interview insights…

A London-based restaurant manager explained that they created their own app for pick-up and delivery. She noted that although it is experimental, it has been working well with employees delivering the orders instead of contracting it out.

Restaurant owners in Ontario have enough on their plate right now without the added pressure of food delivery services eating away at their profits. Although unhappy with the third-party delivery model, many owners feel as if they have no other options. However, the introduction of small-scale local delivery services could be the challengers needed to upend the perceived dominance of the third-party delivery giants, in serving customers during the pandemic.

Make your voice heard at https://gofresher.theheal.ca, and stay tuned in to the conversation through our social media pages (@FRESHER_Canada) and website at http://fresher.theheal.ca.

References

  1. Ambassador AI. (2020). Retrieved from https://ambassador.ai/
  2. Beckett, E. L. (2020, November 13). Delivery by the numbers: What third-party platforms are offering restaurants to survive the pandemic. Restaurant Dive. Retrieved from https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/delivery-by-the-numbers-what-third-party-platforms-are-offering-restaurant/584248/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202020-11-13%20Restaurant%20Dive%20%5Bissue:30860%5D&utm_term=Restaurant%20Dive
  3. Davidson, S. (2020, October 13). Ontario premier urges food delivery companies to slash commission to help restaurants survive. CBC News. Retrieved from https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-premier-urges-food-delivery-companies-to-slash-commission-to-help-restaurants-survive-1.5142746
  4. Evans, P. (2020, October 16). Food delivery apps cut come restaurant fees amid surging demand due to COVID-19. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/food-delivery-apps-fees-1.5765790
  5. Goodyear, S. (2020, May 12). Why this Toronto restauranteur is creating an alternative to delivery apps. CBC News. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-tuesday-edition-1.5566154/why-this-toronto-restaurateur-is-creating-an-alternative-to-delivery-apps-1.5566441
  6. Mishra, S. (2019, June 18). Why Restaurants are Ditching Third Party Delivery Services. Retrieved from https://fabled.medium.com/why-restaurants-are-ditching-third-party-delivery-services-9fc51f7de118
  7. Ritchie, K. (2020, October 17). Ontario restaurant group plans to launch feed delivery service. Now. Retrieved from https://nowtoronto.com/news/ontario-restaurant-group-plans-to-launch-food-delivery-service