Rising food costs a major challenge for restaurant owners emerging from COVID-19 restrictions
Food costs from suppliers have risen significantly in the last year, and for at least one restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie, it means tough decisions are coming.
Customers have been keeping the staff at the Sault location of Wacky Wings location busy since restrictions eased up. But one of the owners said this week rising food costs have taken a toll on its profits.
"Actually, we've seen increases like we've never seen before in the entire history of Wacky Wings, to be honest with you," said Craig Burgess, Wacky Wings co-owner. "Prices of canola oil (is up) over 25 per cent, prices of chicken wings over 10 per cent."
Burgess said he's managed to cope through it for now, but the restaurant chain could soon be facing some tough decisions.
"It's getting challenging by the day because we're getting notices from the suppliers, left, right and centre," he said. "There's a very high -- likely -- chance that we'll have to be forced into making some type of smaller price increases to adjust."
The non-profit group representing the Canadian food industry said food costs are its third-biggest challenge, behind shutdowns and pandemic-related debt.
And, it said “customers will soon be feeling the effects of higher food costs.”
"In normal times, they try to put off raising menu prices as long as possible, but with the debt that most have accrued throughout the pandemic, they really don't have the leeway to delay the menu increases," said James Rillet of Restaurant Canada.
Like Wacky Wings in the Sault, Rillet said restaurants are feeling the pinch right across the country. And it could be a while before they rebound.
"We predict about a year, a year-in-a-half recovery period, so we're still in for a long haul and I think we'll start to see effects of, unfortunately, start to see shutdowns," he said.
Despite the challenges, Rillet said businesses are still gearing up for an exciting summer, with patio demand and an all-time high.
-- Written for the web by Darren MacDonald
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.