This new edition of Quick Delivery gives you three choices of news. The first is the summary of a new study on the messages aimed at children that make junk food attractive, a dangerous scourge. The second is the addition to the ITHQ menu, for a limited time, of dishes that have been presented at two major competitions. Finally, the last choice is a summary of the few initiatives suggested to improve the hiring of employees in the restaurant and hotel sector.

First, the new report funded by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada examined the prevalence of marketing to children in grocery stores and restaurants. Researchers checked offers at more than 2,000 restaurants and 800 stores across Canada and concluded that regulation is needed to reduce children's temptations to eat unhealthy foods.

Children can be bombarded with messages that make junk food appealing, especially in the checkout aisles. The researchers found that nearly 53% of stores lined the checkout aisles with allusions to unhealthy foods. Food location encourages the power of bullying, when children pressure their parents to make impulse purchases. Healthy checkout aisle policies and banning toy giveaways with children's meals could help reduce consumption of unhealthy foods, the report says.

Will governments be tempted to legislate?

Second, the Institut de tourisme et d'hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) is offering a special evening menu, until May 26 only, signed by chef Samuel Sirois, who won 11th place in the Bocuse d'Or 2023, the most prestigious culinary competition in the world. The dishes are inspired by those offered to international judges in competition.

Menu options include monkfish liver parfait, celery, lovage oil, shellfish royale, bean stew, phytoplankton croutons and quinoa, squash and cream of tofu risotto for vegetarians. The dishes offered are inspired by two competitions, Lyon and Santiago, where Samuel Sirois won a second place in the continental final in Santiago, Chile. Menu options include a tasting menu ($82) or a la carte dishes (from $14 appetizer, $25 main).

Don't forget, you have until May 26 to take advantage of it!

Finally, the Quebec Council for Human Resources in Tourism (CQRHT), the Alliance de l'industrie tourisme du Québec and Tourisme Laval are launching three initiatives to improve the attractiveness of trades and professions in the tourism sector in Quebec. The Ministry of Tourism financially supports these projects, which are part of the 2021-2025 tourism intervention framework.

The first initiative is the first edition of the Open Doors on Tourism from May 3 to 6, which will make it possible to discover tourism businesses across nine regions of Quebec.
The second initiative is a national campaign to promote trades and professions in tourism, launched in partnership with the CQRHT, to support companies' recruitment efforts for the summer season.

The third initiative is the "Advantage Card - privileges for tourism professionals" launched by 13 regional tourist associations (ATR), which should promote job attractiveness and staff retention by offering more than 230 exclusive offers to nearly 1 600 workers from 250 tourist companies.
These initiatives aim to give workers access to more than 230 tourism experiences across the province, to demystify jobs in the industry and to promote career opportunities in the sector. Tourism Minister Caroline Proulx said these initiatives are aimed at attracting new workers and retaining those working in this exciting and diverse industry.