In this new edition of Fast Delivery, get ready! We've put together several ingredients to bring you a dish of fresh news: first, a look at the return of the Cage and his new band Grandio in this post-pandemic era. Finally, we will present the new Annette wine bar project.
First, we know that several restaurants are struggling to recover from the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, with one in four closing each year. Jean Bédard, president of La Cage, a sports brasserie, says finding the right staff has been the chain's biggest challenge. La Cage solved its personnel problems by recruiting abroad and welcoming people who wish to come to Quebec. According to Jean Bédard, stability is the only thing La Cage customers would want for the brand.
Bédard says institutions have regained momentum, but need to remain cautious amid rising interest rates and the threat of a recession. Customers are coming back, but their wallets are lighter than before the pandemic and they can split tickets or spend less.
The process of rebuilding the Montreal Canadiens hockey club has affected the economy of sports bars such as La Cage. It had to review its business model and become less dependent on the performance of Canadians.
Developing corporate partnerships is key to ensuring a reliable supply chain, especially for popular menu items like chicken wings. La Cage has established a strong partnership with Exceldor, a Quebec-based poultry producer, and has been able to increase production to meet demand.
In addition, the Grandio Group, which includes La Cage and Restos Plaisirs, will invest more than $2 million in the opening of a new La Cage restaurant at Place de la Cité in Quebec City in early 2024. The modernized sports brasserie will extend over 9000 square feet and will be greener and more technological, offering a new experience for customers.
Grandio CEO Jean Bédard is delighted with the brewery's prime location in Quebec City and the city is seen as extremely important to the group. La Cage restaurant at Laurier Quebec will be closed in the coming days, but employees may be transferred to other Grandio restaurants.
The company will also open a Japanese brewery, IRU Izakaya, in Quebec City at the end of 2023, and will renovate the largest Cochon Dingue on Boulevard Lebourgneuf for $1 million. The group also intends to expand its presence in Montreal by opening a first restaurant in the region soon.
The consolidation with Grandio and the support of Champlain Financial Group allow Restos Plaisirs to position itself advantageously in the restaurant market, which is being redefined after the pandemic. For Jean Bédard, the group's vitality makes it more attractive to the workforce, which provides development opportunities for his teams. Finally, the Grandio Group will open a first La Cage franchise in Bordeaux, France, this summer.
Finally, chef Marc-André Jetté, his partner Mila Rishkova and Olivier Quintin opened Annette wine bar, a new Montreal project centered on wine and local products. The restaurant offers 100 seats and a room that can be privatized for 50 people. The menu prepared by Jetté highlights seasonal products, presented mainly in plates to share. The cocktail menu was designed by Quintin to harmonize with sommelier Hugo Duchesne's selection of wines. Annette bar à vin also offers wine tasting workshops, which include five products accompanied by appetizers to share, with the first three workshops already scheduled. Reservations are required for groups of 8 or more.
