Food Service

Foodservice Industry Facts

  • Number of commercial foodservice establishments in Canada: 72,721
  • Share that are independent restaurants: 63.8%
  • Province with highest annual household spending at restaurants: Alberta: $1,756 per capita 
  • Province with lowest annual household spending at restaurants: Newfoundland: $1,103 per capita 
  • Average per-person check: $7.13 
  • Number of foodservice employees in Canada: 1,084,500 
  • Percentage of Canadian workforce employed in foodservice: 6.4% 
  • Share of household food and beverage dollar spent at restaurants: 23.1% 
  • Foodservice pre-tax profit margin: 4.4% 
  • Meals and snacks sourced from restaurants account for: 1 in 10 meal occasions 
  • Percentage of foodservice employees that are young people between ages 15 and 24: 43%

Sources: Statistics Canada, NPD Group Canada and CRFA, 2011