Canadians rally to save restaurants with #TakeoutDay

PHOTO: Branding and Buzzing

To save the foodservice industry, several hundred restaurant owners, chefs, culinary leaders and celebrities across Canada have joined forces to support Canada Takeout to make every Wednesday #TakeoutDay.

This movement encourages Canadians to order from their favourite local restaurant offering takeout or delivery, with a nationwide kickoff on April 15, 2020.

Restaurants Canada estimates that 800,000 foodservice jobs have already been lost nationwide due to COVID-19. Nearly one in 10 restaurants have already closed permanently and many more might close by the end of April if conditions don’t improve.

Food service sales are expected to be down nearly $20 billion for the second quarter of 2020.

“Not only was our industry among the first to feel the impacts of COVID-19, we’ve been one of the hardest hit so far, with nearly two thirds of our workforce now lost,” said Shanna Munro, Restaurants Canada president and CEO in a prepared statement. “We would love to see Canadians embrace #TakeoutDay and support those restaurants who are still able to operate through takeout or delivery.”

Canada’s Great Kitchen Party will host a variety show on Facebook live at 8pm EST on April 15th in partnership with Canada Takeout. It will feature musical entertainment from in the likes of Jim Cuddy, Alan Doyle, Ed Robertson, Barney Bentall and Tom Cochrane.

Friends and family will be able dinner and a concert together virtually and do their part to help restaurants on #TakeoutDay.

“#TakeoutDay aims to save more than just businesses – whether it’s the local mom and pop eatery or the popular restaurant that made it onto top dining lists,” said Pay Chen, a Canada Takeout ambassador, in a prepared statement. “Our robust and diverse culinary scene is an integral part of Canada’s unique identity and we stand to lose an important part of our culture and heritage if we don’t do our part.”