Canada’s first server-free restaurant opened its doors recently in Toronto. Box’d is a fully automated restaurant designed for life during a global pandemic. An interesting concept indeed, but it does raise the issue of the role humans can, and should play, in the food industry. Being aware of the new risks, we now need to
Comment: Damnit Jim! Where’s the waiter?
Food-service establishments are poised to go ‘Star Trek’ in the wake of COVID
Don’t be fooled by the COVID-19 cons
Opinion | Tough times always mean more food fraud and COVID-19 will be no exception
When costs rise, most food companies adjust. Safe, fair, and sustainable business practices are always a priority in this sector. Regrettably though, it is not always the case. Several food science experts believe that an increase in food fraud is inevitable due to COVID-19. The Food Authenticity Network Advisory Board, which includes over 1,500 food
Comment: Dairy sector faces uncertain future
The dairy industry is slowly being trampled by a wave of consumers who see it as only one of many options
There’s been a lot of talk recently about meat alternatives but dairy alternatives are also becoming more popular. And when it comes to dairy in Canada, given our quotas and high tariffs, the stakes are significantly higher. Dairy alternatives can be seen everywhere from grocery stores to coffee shops. These products are no longer confined
Opinion: Heroes, only for a while
The reality of low margins is seeing employers claw back wage top-ups for front-line employees
The “hero pay” is quietly fading away in grocery stores and food distribution centres. In fact, the American-based Kroger chain, among others, even asked employees to return the extra money they received but has since backed off. Quite the reversal from 10 weeks ago. It appears higher salaries in grocery stores were short lived. It
Opinion: Better get used to higher food prices
Food inflation is vastly outstripping price advances in other products
Despite a negative inflation rate, recent StatsCan numbers are telling us that we are in for a wild ride at the grocery store. The numbers are also telling. While the general inflation rate sits at -0.2 per cent, the food inflation rate is at 3.4 per cent. In December 2019, Canada’s Food Price Report forecasted
Opinion: Canada has the food industry it deserves
Don’t blame farmers for euthanizing animals and dumping milk
Millions of litres of milk are being thrown away, more than two million eggs are eliminated from the food chain, and pigs and chickens are being euthanized. There is horror in the countryside. Throwing away good food when more than four million Canadians have lost their jobs is morally reprehensible, and farmers would be the
Comment: Why COVID-19 will change the food industry, forever
Like the Green Revolution changed primary agriculture, this will change food sales
COVID-19 is likely going to redefine grocery shopping in more ways than one. Convenience now has a different meaning. It’s less about saving time and more about survival and safety. Before the crisis barely anyone ordered online, and many Canadians wondered why someone would ever order food online. Many things are changing, and changing rapidly.
Comment: Pandemic + oil price war = uncertainty
So far agriculture commodity markets have avoided the worst of the sell-off
Most analysts agree that the oil price war is only beginning. With cheap oil abound, this will impact the entire agri-food market, from farm gate to plate. The novel coronavirus pandemic is also compounding what is already a fragile global economy. The current novel coronavirus pandemic and the oil price war is causing a massive
Comment: The fine art of panic buying
Supply chains will be disrupted, but in chaos is also opportunity
Reports on how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting global supply chains and disrupting manufacturing operations around the world are increasing daily, and these effects may not yet have reached their peak, at least not in North America. This may happen, however, over the next few weeks. Grocers and food retailers are likely engaging their vendors
Comment: The China syndrome
China’s new role as a global economic leader makes it important the country shoulders its transparency responsibilities
When SARS hit back in 2003, China was nowhere near the economic powerhouse it is today. Now, if something happens to China, the entire world is affected. Even though the coronavirus outbreak is starting to slow, the economic damage will easily surpass that of SARS. China accounts for a much larger share of commodities demand
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
