Restaurateurs in Quebec are currently experiencing a difficult year and although December promises to be a little brighter in some cases, the months of January and February will quickly remind us that the consumption habits of Quebecers have changed.
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“Catering is a bit of a luxury,” says the former owner of the brasserie Les Brasseurs du temps, Alain Geoffroy.
The Gatineau brasserie, which could accommodate up to 500 guests, was forced to close after 14 years of operation due to the effects of the pandemic, remote work and increased costs of living.
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“You know how much it costs to buy food, but the same goes for restaurants,” explains Mr. Geoffroy on LCN.
Since the beginning of 2023, an average of 30 restaurants have filed for bankruptcy each month.
There have already been 337 restaurant bankruptcies, a number well above the average for the last 6 years.
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“This drop in traffic in recent months is worrying,” explains the vice-president of public affairs of the Quebec Catering Association (ARQ), Martin Vézina.
Mr. Vézina says restaurants saw a 5% to 10% drop in traffic in the fall.
Nevertheless, the vice president of the ARQ believes “that December may be better thanks to the company parties”.
“The feedback from our members is that it is neither more nor less than last year,” he adds.
Restaurant owners are therefore hoping to replenish their coffers during the holiday season, as the winter months will once again prove to be a difficult time.