Restaurant industry adapting to labour challenges

Aug 11, 2022 | 1:30 PM

The battle continues in the labour market for employees, especially in the key hospitality sector.

Vernon’s largest restaurant group, Pretium, has been experiencing some success in attracting workers.

Pretium operates The Italian Kitchen, Wings, 1516 Pub and Grill and Vernon Catering and Hospitality.

The hospitality industry in the Thompson-Okanagan has been especially challenged with significant increases in food and labour costs. According to Go2HR, there are more people employed in food and beverage than pre-pandemic levels.

Image credit.: Go2HR

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“The local support has been amazing. We are committed to bringing world class fresh food and flavours to all our guests,” 1516 Pub and Grill head chef, Jessy Ash, stated.

Ash moved to Vernon recently and is from the well-known restaurant group, Whistler Gibbons, where he served as a head chef.

“Yes, the labour market has been tough, but we are having success attracting the very best. Our kitchen team has grown from five to sixteen in the last month, and our front of house team is incredibly strong,” owner, Katie Dahl, said.

The B.C. Restaurant and Foodservices Association estimates that of the 190,000 BC hospitality workers needed, the industry is short up to 40,000. For every three people retiring, only two workers are replacing them.

“At a time when restaurants should be eagerly looking forward to their first wide-open summer patio season since 2019, the industry expects restaurant workers vacancies will rise to 210,000 across the country over the next months,” Olivier Bourbeau, VP of federal affairs with Restaurants Canada, said.

Canada’s restaurant industry was devastated by two years of shutdowns, repeated layoffs, and strict capacity limits, and about 13,000 eateries across the country closed permanently, according to figures released to The Canadian Press.

1516 Pub and Grill manager, Karen Kramer, stated a lot of the success for the operation comes from creativity and a positive attitude from the staff like Peggy Risso who creates their best selling dish, a Chicken Apple Brie Sandwich.

“We are a major employer in Vernon, and we love working with gems like Peggy Risso. You may never see her (she starts very early), but you certainly will be enjoying her food on the patio. The kitchen team is the heart of the business,” Kramer said.

(With files from The Canadian Press)

by Kevin Rothwell

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