10,000 restaurants have closed across Canada since the start of the pandemic

Jan 4 2021, 9:12 pm

Restaurants Canada has reported that 10,000 restaurants across the country have closed due to the effects of COVID-19, and 50% are expected to close for good if there is no improvement.

In a new campaign issued last month, “Picture Your Life Without Restaurants,” Restaurants Canada shared the difficult reality that many restaurant owners have faced since the beginning of the pandemic.

The organization states that 10,000 restaurants have closed since March 2020, leaving the industry with an estimated 800,000 fewer jobs and several businesses reducing working hours to nothing.

“Since then, the industry has struggled to recover due to revolving restrictions across Canada, with 21% of the restaurant workforce not yet recovered,” said the organization.

The recent campaign calls on consumers across Canada to support their local restaurants through several options, including dine-in, takeout, delivery, or by purchasing gift cards.

“The vast majority of Canadian consumers are concerned that restaurants in their community may not survive and feel that restaurants are an important part of their community,” said Todd Barclay, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada.

Several cities such as Toronto have seen thousands of devastating pandemic-related restaurant closures and significant financial losses, making it difficult to recover from such a harsh blow.

Though the ghost kitchen concept and local wine bars may serve as a temporary business model for some at this time, the restaurant industry in Canada has faced turbulent times with worse to come if the second wave continues to prove how low it can go.

Karen DoradeaKaren Doradea

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