Group aims to increase Black representation in restaurant industry

The food-service industry needs to attract, retain and promote Black employees. A dedicated group launched with the help of Restaurants Canada aims to make that a reality.

The Re-Seasoning Coalition, a non-profit initiative dedicated to helping achieve greater representation for Black Canadians within the food-service industry at every level, has launched with support from Restaurants Canada.

TRSC’s goal is to take meaningful action to dismantle the inequalities experienced by Black Canadians in the industry. Racism affects everyone, but each group experiences it differently, Restaurants Canada said in a news release. Black Canadians in particular face immense barriers to success. They also grapple with the impacts of inequality at higher rates than others, including seeking opportunities in organizations that are not adequately prepared to support, retain and advance equity-deserving Canadians.

Through a series of interactive modules, the coalition will assess and validate participants’ HR policies to reconfigure them in alignment with anti-racist and anti-oppression guidelines in a bid to equip participating companies with the tools and frameworks that will help them attract diverse talent and become the best in class brands of the future.

“Restaurants Canada is thrilled to support The Re-Seasoning Coalition in its aim to disrupt discriminatory and racially biased frameworks,” said Christian Buhagiar, president and CEO, Restaurants Canada.

The Re-Seasoning Coalition partnered with Technomic, a consulting firm specializing in food-service industry research, to conduct a deep dive on understanding the Black guest and employee experience within the restaurant industry. The findings shed light on significant trends within the industry:

• Canadian consumers see a need for diversity, equity and inclusion practices to be implemented at the restaurants and food delivery apps they use, with 48 per cent of Canadians saying it should be a priority and 58 per cent of Canadians 18 to 34 years old also in agreement
• Black consumers are more likely to experience or witness racial discrimination at restaurants, with 69 per cent of Black guests saying they have experienced or witnessed racial prejudice compared to 51 per cent for the national average
• Black employees are more likely to experience or witness racial discrimination at work, with 50 per cent in agreement with this statement, compared to 29 per cent of employees of other races

To learn more about The Re-Seasoning Coalition, register for their upcoming webinar in collaboration with Technomic: “The Black Experience In Foodservice.” Taking place on Tuesday, Oct. 4, from 2-3 p.m. ET, the conversation will take a deep dive into the Black experience in the industry, reviewing the findings of recent Restaurants Canada and Technomic research profiling operator, employee, and guest experiences with racism and anti-Black discrimination. The webinar will also share how consumers now expect restaurants to evolve and become more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

For more details, the full report or to become a member of The Re-Seasoning Coalition, visit thereseasoning.org.