Welcome back to Inside the Village, a one-of-a-kind podcast where all news is local — and no topic is off-limits.
On this week's episode: Restaurant impossible.
According to the industry group Restaurants Canada, 51 per cent of eateries across the country are currently operating at a loss, up from just 12 per cent before the pandemic.
At the same time, a separate report out of Dalhousie University says fewer Canadians are choosing to dine out because of shrinking portion sizes and skyrocketing menu prices. Of the 5,000 people surveyed, 90 per cent say they are more budget-conscious when selecting a restaurant than they were compared to a year ago.
How many people are fully satisfied with their restaurant experience these days? Only 29 per cent, the report says.
Mix all that together, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Joining us this week to help explain what's going on at your favourite restaurant is Professor Sylvain Charlebois, a senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University and co-host of The Food Professor podcast.
Spoiler alert: You're going to learn about "shrinkflation."
Hosted by Scott Sexsmith and Michael Friscolanti, the Editor-in-Chief of Village Media, Inside the Village is a news and current affairs podcast that provides a weekly window into some of the best local journalism from across our chain of Ontario newsrooms. Produced by Derek Turner, the program also explores bigger-picture issues that impact people across the province.
Every episode is available HERE. If you prefer the audio version, it is available wherever you find your favourite podcasts.
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