There are 63,517 commercial foodservice units in Canada, or 20.1 units per 10,000 Canadians. By segment, there are:
- 28,794 full-service restaurants
- 25,094 limited-service restaurants
- 4,035 contract and social caterers
- 5,595 taverns, bars, and nightclubs
Source: CRFA’s Provincial InfoStats and Statistics Canada
- Nearly two-thirds, or 63.5%, of restaurants in Canada are independent brands. Chain restaurants account for the remaining 36.5%, and many of these are locally owned and operated franchises.
- The average Canadian household visits a restaurant for a meal or snack 508 times per year. Meals and snacks sourced from restaurants account for 1 in 10 meal occasions.
- The average Canadian household spends 30.3% of its total food dollar on foodservice, compared to 42.0% for U.S. households
- Including spending by households, government, businesses, and foreign tourists, foodservice accounted for 40.5% of the food dollar in 2004.
- The average check size at a restaurant is $5.98 including taxes, but excluding tips.
- The average household sources a meal or snack from a restaurant 11.3 times over a two-week period.
- The percentage of restaurant meals and snacks eaten off-premise has increased from 53% in 1994 to 60.0% in 2003 due to the increased popularity of drive-through service.
