From June 7 to 10, 2024, we surveyed Canadians on dining out, their spending habits when dining out, and their food preferences.
Highlights from our study on dining out include…
-
More than ever, Canadians are tightening their wallets when it comes to dining out. While many Canadians continue to dine out, a dramatic 88% look for value-priced options on a menu, and 50% are doing so more often than they did a year ago. This provides further evidence of the affordability crisis facing many Canadians today.
-
One in four Canadians have dietary restrictions or preferences, and there are indications that these are growing of importance. In an attempt to boost perceived value in their restaurant spending, Canadians have become more discerning in their menu choices – if they must pay higher prices to dine out, they need to know that they are getting the meal that they want (and are unlikely to take a risk otherwise).
-
Younger Canadians are especially discerning and can be a tough group to please. Canadians aged 18 – 34 are more likely than Canadians aged 35+ to have dietary restrictions and preferences and place a higher degree of importance on them (e.g., dairy-free, vegetarian or vegan). This likely reflects the fact that they have lower disposable incomes and need to ensure that dining out is worth the expense.
Methodology
This web survey was conducted from June 7 to June 10, 2024, with 1,528 Canadians aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey.
For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size yields a margin of error no greater than ±2.5%, (19 times out of 20) for the Canadian sample.
