FOODSERVICE FAST FACTS

• Number of commercial foodservice establishments in Canada: 61,676
• Share that are independent restaurants: 63.1%
• Share of household food and beverage dollar spent at restaurants: 24.5%
• Province with highest annual household spending at restaurants: British Columbia ($2,293)
• Province with lowest annual household spending at restaurants: Newfoundland and Labrador ($1,096)
• Number of foodservice employees in Canada: 1,040,300
• Percentage of Canadian workforce employed in foodservice: 6.3%
• Percentage of youth workforce employed in foodservice: 18.2%
• Average share of meals purchased from a restaurant: 1 in 10
• Foodservice pre-tax profit margin: 3.8%
• 2007 foodservice share of total food dollar: 41.4%
• Average per person check: $6.61

Sources: Statistics Canada. NPD Group Canada and CRFA

FOODSERVICE SALES FORECAST 2007-2008

CRFA forecasts that with weaker foodservice sales growth in 2008, the foodservice industry’s share of the total food dollar will slip slightly to 41.2% from 41.4%.  The total food dollar captures all spending on food in Canada, by consumers, tourists, government and business.

Based on the latest Statscan data and Conference Board of Canada estimates, 2007 sales are projected to come in at:

• 3.7% growth
• 2.9% menu inflation
• 0.8% real growth