OTTAWA — There’s cause for optimism with news of modest sales growth at Canadian foodservice and drinking places.

It turns out, F&B sales increased 0.3 per cent in June, seasonally adjusted compared to a month earlier, rising to $4.1 billion, according to Statistics Canada.

Three of the four sectors reported gains with caterers, contractors and mobile-food operations up 2.3 per cent, limited-service restaurants up 0.7 per cent and drinking places up 0.7 per cent. The full-service restaurants group saw sales decline 0.7 per cent.

TORONTO — Dairy Queen celebrated another successful Miracle Treat Day at the eighth annual charity drive in early August that raised more than $2 million to support the Children's Miracle Network.  

"We are so thankful for the kindness and commitment of the Dairy Queen franchisees who voluntarily give the proceeds of their Blizzard sales on Miracle Treat Day," said John Hartman, chief international officer, Children's Miracle Network. "Every time someone buys a Blizzard on Miracle Treat Day, they are helping miracles come to life at each of Canada's 14 children's hospitals by funding medical care, research and education."

OTTAWA — It’s been less than a month since the new Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) came into effect in Ontario and B.C., a tax vehemently opposed by the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, and HST detractors may already have some new ammunition for their cause.

According to a report on consumer prices from Statistics Canada, the national annual inflation rate jumped to 1.8 per cent for July. The increase comes on the back of higher energy prices and the new tax’s introduction in the two provinces, along with a two per cent hike of the same levy in Nova Scotia, also in July.

MINNEAPOLIS — Buffalo Wild Wings Inc., — a casual-dining chain that specializes in wings, beer and sports — is coming to Canada.

Last week, the first two Canadian franchise agreements for the Minneapolis-based sports grill and bar were signed. “We are a large brand now in the United States, and it seemed to make sense to look at the international market,” Sally Smith, company CEO, told foodserviceworld.com, while visiting Toronto to finalize lease agreements for Ontario locations in Oshawa and Mississauga. “Of course, we looked to our neighbours to the north and thought, Canadians like wings, Canadians love beer and they love sports, so [there’s] a lot of the same demographics that we have throughout the States.”