Restaurant and bar owners in Alberta experienced a pretty solid month in June with sales on the rise.
Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday that sales in the food services and drinking places industry climbed by 1.5 per cent in June from the previous month to $787.95 million in the province.
That was also up 1.9 per cent from a year ago.
Nationally, the federal agency said sales rose 1.1 per cent to $6 billion in June.
“Higher receipts were reported at full-service restaurants (+1.9 per cent), limited-service restaurants (+0.6 per cent) and special food services (+1.1 per cent). Receipts were down at drinking places (-1.9 per cent),” said StatsCan.
On a year-over-year basis, sales rose by 5.6 per cent across the country with gains in full-service restaurants (seven per cent), limited-service restaurants (5.1 per cent), special food services (2.1 per cent) and drinking places (2.0 per cent).
“Unadjusted sales for the second quarter were up 4.9 per cent in the food services and drinking places subsector compared with the second quarter of 2017. Sales in all four industry groups increased: full-service restaurants (+5.6 per cent), limited-service restaurants (+4.6 per cent), special food services (+3.8 per cent) and drinking places (+2.8 per cent). These increases follow a similar trend to the first quarter, leading to increases in all industry groups in the first half of 2018,” said Statistics Canada.
“Prices for food purchased from restaurants were up 4.5 per cent in the second quarter compared with the second quarter of 2017, while prices for alcoholic beverages served in licensed establishments rose 2.4 per cent. Prices for food purchased from restaurants were up 4.5 per cent in June compared with June 2017, while prices for alcoholic beverages served in licensed establishments rose 2.5 per cent.”
Mario Toneguzzi is a veteran Calgary-based journalist who worked for 35 years for the Calgary Herald in various capacities, including 12 years as a senior business writer.
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