Discover below the results of a survey showing Canadians' dissatisfaction with restaurants, chef Hakim Chajar's new project in Cowansville and the secret of Groupe Martin's success.
Let's start with this recent survey from the Agri-Food Analytical Sciences Laboratory at Dalhousie University, in collaboration with Caddle, showing that more than half of people in Quebec (58%) are dissatisfied with their restaurant experience in 2023, a trend attributed to the increase in the cost of living. The level of restaurant satisfaction varies considerably in other provinces, with only 15% in Manitoba and 28.5% in Ontario, highlighting that the situation is relatively better in Quebec, according to Sylvain Charlebois, director of the laboratory at Dalhousie University .
Customers noted several changes compared to 12 months ago, including an increase in prices, noted by 80% of respondents, and a reduction in portion sizes, noted by 65% of participants. The results of the survey are considered alarming for restaurateurs by Sylvain Charlebois, who underlines the need for them to innovate in order to avoid the loss of customers in the face of a situation where more than one restaurant in three in Canada (34%) is not profitable.
Despite total foodservice sales expected to grow to $110 billion by year-end, restaurateurs face increased financial challenges, with a significant increase in the number of unprofitable restaurants since 2019, data shows provided by the Restaurants Canada lobby.
Let's continue with the choice of renowned chef Hakim Chajar to launch his new project in the Eastern Townships, the Jane Café, which quickly attracted fans of local products and Italian flavors. Chajar, known for his participation in the show Les Chefs, was trained in prestigious restaurants in Europe, subsequently owning two restaurants in Montreal before returning to settle in Estrie, his native region.
The idea for Jane Café emerged when he took the reins of LA Café in Cowansville, with the vision of an Italian sandwich shop combined with a Mediterranean market, a café, and a creative and collaborative space. Jane Café offers a complete sensory experience, offering bagels, croissants, Italian sandwiches, artisan pastas, soups and salads, with an emphasis on fresh and varied Mediterranean ingredients.
The official opening of the Jane Café was well received, bringing together many guests, including municipal elected officials from Cowansville, and offering ready-to-eat meal options, catering service, as well as rental of private space for “coworking ".
Let's finish by giving you the recipe of the Martin Group, owner of 11 St-Hubert and 3 Harvey's franchises in the Quebec region, which managed to overcome the labor shortage by relying on candidates recommended by their colleagues. The notoriety of the St-Hubert brand and the local economic context have favored an influx of applications, allowing the group to choose among quality candidates, a better situation than in 2022.
Despite past difficulties in filling full-time positions, mainly in the evenings, the Martin Group has found solutions by recruiting internationally, notably in Mexico, Guatemala and Mauritius. The group's network of 1,200 employees provides flexibility by replacing absences and temporarily filling vacant positions, strengthening the stability of the team.
The healthy working atmosphere and organizational culture, maintained by management close to its employees, contribute to the success of recruitment and the sustainability of the teams, with the Martin family running the company for three generations.
