You probably know the Salvatoré pizzeria banner. The channel has experienced exceptional growth over the past few years. Now, we invite you to learn more about the family that runs this proudly Quebec company. Also, it is impossible to miss, once again, the inflation that dictates food prices. Finally, some McDonald's franchisees are taking drastic measures to retain their employees by reimbursing their children's purchases of school supplies.
Let's start with this great report from the daily newspaper Le Soleil, which paints a very accurate portrait of a family of entrepreneurs who make Quebecers happy. The Abbatiello family, who run the Salvatoré banner, believe the company's success is based on their maturity to approach issues with honesty. The five owners, Elisabeth, Katarina, Frédéric, Sébastien and Guillaume Jr, have run the Salvatoré banner since 2018, but the company was founded in 1964 by Salvatore Abbatiello and Angèle Fecteau.
Their strength comes from their strong family ties and they get together every Monday for family dinner. Living close to each other, their family closeness is reflected in their teamwork.
Each took charge of a sector of the company, promoting organized and efficient internal management. Solid foundations, organization and communication are essential to prevent friction within the company. Although they may sometimes have disagreements, they are focused on the good of the company. The Abbatiello family values communication, transparency and professionalism to maintain harmony in the company and preserve family ties.
Then, it is obviously the rise in food prices that is pushing restaurateurs to see an increase in demand for discounts, according to Nicolas Filiatrault, vice-president of finance and administration at Benny&Co. What directly affects customer habits is the 30-40% increase in food costs. This is why consumers now favor discounted offers.
To maintain their customer base, companies like Benny&Co are offering more discounted deals despite their shrinking profit margins. Businesses are reviewing their finances to avoid losses, due to rising costs such as waste, energy and cooking oils. Wages are also increasing due to labor shortages. Filiatrault hopes that the rise in prices will stabilize soon to allow a return to more normal conditions.
Finally, the McDonald's restaurants in Châteauguay, Beauharnois, Mercier, Saint-Rémi and Saint-Zotique continue for a second consecutive year to financially support the children of full-time employees by reimbursing up to $50 per child for the purchase of school supplies.
This program was launched in 2022 to help counter the high cost of living and improve employment conditions. The engagement continues due to the positive reaction and feedback from employees. In 2022, 42 student applications were submitted and more are expected this year.
In addition, post-secondary student staff benefit from tuition reimbursement, with $100 per session for professional and college studies, and $200 per session for university studies. These initiatives help with staff retention and demonstrate commitment to employees.