Industry News
In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.
In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.
Associations
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
Canadian Associations
British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservices Association (BCRFA) | The BCRFA is an industry organization that represents over 3,000 restaurant and foodservice businesses across British Columbia.
Canadian Culinary Federation (CCFCC) | The CCFCC is Canada's largest professional chefs' organization. Its goal is to unite chefs and cooks across Canada in a common dedication to professional excellence.
Restaurants Canada | Restaurants Canada (formerly the CFRA) represents every sector of Canada's foodservice industry. Check out the Industry News and Research sections, and their Foodservice Facts 2021.
Canadian Franchise Association | The voice of the Canadian Franchise industry, connects people with franchise opportunities and promotes best practice. Check out their Directory for restaurant franchise opportunities.
International Associations
National Restaurant Association (US) | The National Restaurant Association represents more than 380,000 restaurant-related businesses in the US. Check out the Operations section.
Magazines & Trade Journals
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for business planning. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
Eat Magazine | BC-based food and wine magazine featuring restaurant reviews, recipes, wine recommendations, and more. Published bi-monthly, print and digital.
MENU | MENU, Restaurant Canada’s foodservice magazine, serves fresh, authentic stories and photos that truly reflect the vibrant, innovative industry. They inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs and restaurateurs to take their businesses to new heights.
Food in Canada | The voice of the Canadian food and beverage industry. Published 9 times per year, print and digital.
Canadian Restaurant News | Official magazine of the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, print and digital (CRFA).
Foodservice and Hospitality Magazine | Canada's hospitality business magazine. Provides foodservice operators with information on how to successfully grow their businesses. Published 12 times per year, print and digital.
Modern Restaurant Management | Focused on all aspects of restaurant management news this online magazine posts news items on a daily basis, incorporates profiles, trends and expert advice.
Consultant & Other Websites
Firsthand Career Platform
A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.
MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.
PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.
- Understanding the Canadian consumer of the moment: Canadian Consumer Insights 2021, Pulse 2 https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights-2021-pulse-2.html
- Accelerating shifts driving a radical rethink of the customer journey: Canadian Consumer Insights 2020 https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights…
Blogs, Podcasts, & Discussion Forums
Blogs
Modern Restaurant Management | Modern Restaurant Management is the go-to resource for on-the-go restaurant-industry professionals, providing management news focused on all aspects of the restaurant industry- or, as they fondly call it, the “business of eating”. The magazine posts daily news items, incorporates profiles of restauranteurs and managers, offers advice on trends, and dispenses expert advice on management.
The Restaurateur | Run by a New England accounting and advisory firm, provides practical and focused advice for restaurateurs. Recent topics include tax considerations in selling your restaurant business, accounting for gift cards correctly, and sustainability trends in the hospitality industry.
Open for Business by OpenTable | Leading restaurant reservation software company OpenTable has collated a wealth of information and personal stories from restaurant owners and managers on their blog. Recent posts have ranged from “Beyond TikTok: 5 Ways to Attract Gen Z To Your Restaurant” to “Tips to Get the Word Out About Private Spaces”.
The Restaurant Manifesto | Restaurant Manifesto’s manifesto and raison d’etre is “to help improve your dining experiences by giving you the tools you need to engage with waitstaff more productivity. Becoming a more conscientious diner will result in better service and more successful meals!” To this end, they offer offbeat advice about restaurant life and help readers understand the way that restaurants work. Their advice is geared toward diners, but is useful for chefs and restaurateurs who want to keep their pulse on what’s happening in the front-of-house.
Podcasts
Restaurant Unstoppable | What do the most successful entrepreneurs know that you don't? Restaurant Unstoppable is on a mission to find out and impart that knowledge to YOU. Their guests include today’s most successful restaurateurs and restaurant professionals, who share tips and insights on what it takes to be successful in the restaurant industry, and how to lead, manage, and market a successful restaurant.
Bar and Restaurant Podcast | Arizona-based Bar and Restaurant Podcast brings you longform interviews featuring local Arizonan restaurateurs and entrepreneurs. Their stories reveal trends and intimate behind the scene insights from the hospitality industry, tied together by a mission to make EVERYTHING you listen to as informative and entertaining as possible.
Secret Sauce: The Restaurant Marketing Podcast | Secret Sauce looks at the ingredients of the secret formula for your own original restaurant branding and marketing, including SEO, Facebook, Twitter, emails, coupons, yield utilization, USPs, Menu engineering, direct mail, Instagram, partnerships. They believe that, with the right combination of these ingredients, you can find more customers and turn them into repeat customers. Recent episodes have included deep-dives on delivery apps and advice on Managing the Great Resignation.
The Garnish: A Podcast for Restaurant People | The Garnish brings you longform stories and advice from restaurateurs, managers, chefs, and everyone else who powers the restaurant industry. They share advice generously, weaving their journeys through the restaurant industry in with their personal stories of resilience and strength. Guests have included Irene Li of Mei Mei in Boston and Ashish Alfred of Duck Duck Goose in Baltimore.
The Eat North Podcast | Eat North is one of the only podcasts around exclusively dedicated to the wonders of Canada’s own food scene. It’s hosted by a mix of food writers, who’ve been everywhere there’s anything to eat, and recognizable Canadians who talk about the food and cultural scene in Canada’s cities and towns. It’s a must-listen for any entrepreneur and restaurateur who wants the latest beat on the food scene in their locale and beyond.
TIP: As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.