On a seasonally adjusted basis, commercial foodservice sales in Canada were flat at $6.3 billion in September compared to August as greater spending at quick-service restaurants and caterers offset a dip in spending at full-service restaurants and drinking places. Overall, foodservice sales in September were 2.6% below February 2020 levels.
Compared to two years ago, quick-service restaurants were the only segment to report higher sales in September 2021, up 5.3% compared to September 2019. In addition, September 2021 also marks the first month since the start of the pandemic that all provinces posted higher quick-service restaurant sales compared to 2019. After 18 consecutive months of lower sales, Ontario was the last province to report greater spending in September compared to two years ago.
Full-service restaurant sales, however, were down by 4.4% in September 2021 compared to September 2019. The drop in September represents a slight deceleration in full-service restaurant sales compared to the 3.2% decline in August 2021. Most provinces reported lower sales in September with the exception of Newfoundland & Labrador and Nova Scotia, which posted gains of 4.4% and 1.9% respectively compared to September 2019.
Drinking places and caterers have the longest way to go to recover as sales were down 23.1% and 24.2% in September 2021 compared to September 2019.
For more information by province by segment, click here for the September 2021 Fast Facts.
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