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News
Consumers keen to return to bars in Canada
Nearly half of consumers in Canada plan to visit bars more frequently in 2022 compared with 2021, new research has shown.
CGA’s On Premise Impact Report and Canada Impact Report was based on a survey that took place from 13-17 January 2022. CGA questioned more than 1,200 consumers in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec in Canada, who have visited the on-trade in the past three months.
The data showed 47% of consumers planned to visit bars and restaurants more regularly than they did in 2021. However, 14% planned to visit on-trade establishments less frequently.
The figures also showed that as omicron cases drop, there was ‘strong appetite’ from consumers to return to the on-trade ‘as soon as possible’. The research showed 63% of people planned to visit an on-trade venue within the next month.
Drinks-led outings to the on-trade remained ‘consistent’, with 27% of respondents still intending to visit bars – much like the past month.
Matthew Crompton, CGA regional director, North Americas, said: “With omicron currently impacting the channel, our first consumer issue of the year demonstrates how on-premise consumers truly feel about visiting the channel right now, and reveals a positive outlook.
“The research shows encouraging signs for the channel as we await updates on restrictions in the coming weeks, however the data shows just how important having an on-premise strategy is, as competition is likely to be [more] intense than ever before.”
In addition, the study revealed that almost three in five on-trade visitors had been to bars and/or restaurants at least three times in the last three months.
Furthermore, the research suggested that requiring proof of vaccination to enter venues and social distancing were the most popular ways to help people feel comfortable in bars and restaurants.
Nearly a third of consumers also started taking part in Dry January, but nearly half of them have either already consumed alcohol during the month or plan to before January ends.
Towards the end of last year, SB explored the state of the on-trade from region to region. In the Americas segment of our Global bar report, we looked at how Canada’s on-trade had fared during 2021.