Putting U.S. Rice to Work for Foodservice in Canada

TORONTO, CANADA – Restaurant sales in Canada have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels but while foodservice operators here are “back in business,” they’re having to operate with less staff than before.  Statistics indicate that the labor shortage in the Canadian foodservice industry nearly doubled since before the pandemic due to factors like low wages and uncertainty about industry stability.  

“Staffing shortages, coupled with supply chain issues and increasing food prices, have forced restaurant owners to reduce the size of their operations and/or menus to streamline their offerings,” said Asiha Grigsby, USA Rice director of international promotion for the Western Hemisphere.  “This is where USA Rice comes in, working with foodservice contactors across Canada to identify how U.S. rice can be part of their solution.”

Adapting to the current foodservice landscape, USA Rice has shifted focus from working with large restaurant chains to working with smaller, more community-based restaurants to integrate U.S. rice menu items.  As a low-cost and versatile ingredient, rice can be a significant gamechanger for operators who make simple steps to maximize the small grain’s big potential.

“We’re talking with award-winning chefs like Adam Soliman, owner of Aragoz, a local restaurant and catering service, and Keith Pears, executive chef at the W Hotel Toronto, about the role U.S.-grown rice can play in restaurant kitchens to increase profits and reduce food waste, while still delivering optimal dining experiences,” said Grigsby.

An example of this collaborative effort is the new Spicy Tuna Poke Rice Sandwich, created by Chef Pears, using U.S. rice to form the sandwich “bun.”  This dish, developed specifically for USA Rice social media, is a colorful, flavor-filled example of how rice can be elevated for consumers.  The poke sandwich is scheduled to launch on the USA Rice Canada website and social media platforms this week.

“We anticipate a positive response from the industry and consumers to the new menu items we’re promoting,” Grigsby said.  “Our plan is to continue to integrate relevant key messaging on affordability, origin, and versatility in menu promotions to drive further awareness of U.S.-grown rice.”

In the first quarter of 2022, the U.S. exported nearly 65,000 MT of milled rice to Canada, valued at $52.9 million.