Restaurants across Canada are “in crisis” and still fighting for survival, says the not-for-profit association that represents 30,000 of the businesses countrywide.
Restaurants Canada says its members are facing a “triple whammy” of challenges: inflationary costs, labour shortages and COVID-19 loan repayments.
“We’re in this post-pandemic hangover phase,” said Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president of the group’s Western Canada division. “It’s been really difficult to get back to normal.”
Bankruptcy filings in food services have spiked 116 per cent since 2022, according to Restaurants Canada. It says about half of restaurants are unprofitable right now, compared to only 12 per cent before the pandemic.
Mark von Schellwitz with Restaurants Canada
