KINGSEY FALLS, Que. — The Quebec-based Cascades Tissue Group was recently awarded the Product Innovation prize by The Quebec Association of Industrial Research (ADRIQ).

The company was honoured for its Intelligent antibacterial hand towel at ADRIQ’s 20th Annual Awards Gala. The unique Canadian hygiene product, which provides antibacterial protection for up to 30 minutes after use, is marketed to the healthcare, foodservice, food processing and education sectors. It has been lauded by Health Canada.

MONTREAL — The challenging economic climate of the past two years is being blamed for a decline in sales at Sportscene Inc. The Montreal-based company, which operates the La Cage Aux Sports chain of resto-bars, posted network sales of $110.3 million, down from $114.7 million the previous year.

Nevertheless, Sportscene managed to alleviate the impact of the sluggish economy on customer traffic by capitalizing on the year's major sporting events, especially the hockey playoffs and the five boxing championships held by the subsidiary InterBox.

Sportscene's consolidated revenues amounted to $76.6 million, compared with $81.3 million in 2009. This 5.7 per cent decrease is largely due to a slower Cage construction and renovation schedule than the previous year when Sportscene was implementing its new interior design concept. However, the decrease in revenues from restaurant operations, which accounted for 84.8 per cent of consolidated revenues, was 2.4 per cent.

MONTREAL — The word is out. Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is setting up shop in Montreal where he will make his first foray into the Canadian dining scene.

The Hell’s Kitchen star, who owns restaurants in London, New York and California, has found a neighbourhood, family restaurant in Montreal — the city’s iconic Rôtisserie Laurier BBQ.

MONTREAL — Delegates from Slow Food Montreal are gearing up for Terra Madre and Salone del Gusto in Torino, Italy, from Oct. 21 to 25.

Five of the chapter’s seven-member leadership team are preparing to attend the biennial meeting of slow-food proponents from 153 countries and five continents discussing alternatives to the global food system. A focus of discussion at the fourth annual conference will be cultural and linguistic diversity.