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
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.