Culinarian working in a commercial kitchen

Working Around Today’s Labour Shortage

AN EVOLVING INDUSTRY IS CHANGING THE GAME.

Foodservice job openings are everywhere and filling them remains a critical challenge. Across full service, quick service, and fast casual operations, understaffing is now the norm. In Canada, 80 percent of restaurant operators say labour shortages are their top operational concern, pushing operators to seek relief through new products and premade solutions.

THE CHALLENGES ARE REAL. THE SOLUTIONS, DELICIOUS.

Despite the daunting statistics, flexibility, creativity and a healthy helping of innovation make it possible to stay ahead of the shortage.

37%

of Canadian operators reported difficulty hiring or retaining staff for key roles.

Mercer 2025

89%

of Canadian restaurant operators cited labour costs as a top challenge in late 2025.

Retailer Insights 2026

40%

Of Canadian operators prioritize products usable across multiple menu items.

Restaurants Canada Quarterly Foodservice 2025

30%

Of Canadian restaurant operators have taken active measures to offset inflation.

Restaurants Canada Quarterly Foodservice Outlook 2025

Five ways operators can address the labour crunch and still meet customer appetites:

Execution Beats Expansion.

Put the spotlight on what your business does best and focus innovation on core menu items. Canadian operators are simplifying menus to improve speed, consistency, and execution as labour and cost pressures persist. Fewer items help teams perform better and protect quality.

Optimize your menu with products that work across dishes and dayparts.

Choose ingredients that will work across dishes. Need some inspiration? Think about a flatbread: it works great as a base for a pizza, but also can be used as a sandwich carrier, taco shell, or even fried up to use as side for a dip. It can also work across all dayparts, from a breakfast pizza for the AM to a French dip sandwich for lunch to a chicken shawarma wrap on your dinner menu.

Discover Flatbread Solutions

Trusted Partnership Matters.

Do not overlook training and execution support. Rich Products of Canada helps operators simplify beverage preparation, improve consistency, and protect quality as labour pressures continue. Through product focused training and practical resources, Rich enables teams to work smarter and get more value from every beverage on the menu.

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Switch from scratch to save labour.

One in three operators say their staff now has less culinary skill. Bridge the knowledge gap with partially or fully finished products in your kitchen. Try relying on delicious smoked pulled pork that comes ready-made, the right convenience items can make back of house operations easier—without sacrificing taste.

Discover BBQ Solutions

Trusted Partnership Matters.r

Don’t forget to seek out training resources. (You’ll be in good company: nearly 90% of operators today say they appreciate support from outside their that yields valuable insights). Operators may also have resources for particular products or brands to help you make the most of your menu.

What would you like to do next?

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Rustic Par-Baked Pizza Crust