Restaurants Canada calls for action against proposed chicken price hike in B.C.

Restaurants Canada has launched a proactive campaign urging the British Columbia government to take swift action to prevent a proposed 10 per cent increase in the cost of chicken. The association said this move by the BC Chicken Marketing Board would mean the restaurant industry and consumers will be hit with another significant price hike they cannot afford.

With 62 per cent of restaurants operating at a loss or barely breaking even – compared to 10 per cent  pre-pandemic, this upsurge could further destabilize the industry, Restaurants Canada said.

The association cited a new survey by spark*insights, which suggests 78 per cent of B.C. residents say they would be concerned if chicken prices rose 10 per cent. The impact of this price surge could lead to a substantial shift in consumer behaviour, with 48 per cent of respondents indicating they would purchase less chicken and 24 per cent stating they would stop buying chicken altogether.

Mark von Schellwitz, vice-president, Western Canada, at Restaurants Canada, emphasized the significance of competitively priced B.C. chicken for the foodservice industry. He said: “The soaring cost of this widely consumed and versatile meat protein could prove detrimental to restaurants of all sizes in British Columbia, where chicken forms an essential part of menus and dietary preferences.”

Collaboration between industry stakeholders and government entities is essential to ensure the viability and sustainability of the food-service sector, Restaurants Canada said, calling on the BC Farm Industry Review Board, the group appointed by government to accept or reject the 10 per cent increase, to “do the right thing by averting this unfair cost increase that would only further financially burden restaurants and consumers.”