BCRFA Update February 18, 2021

NEW.

1. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY. Seeking submissions: International Women's Day Social Feature. We have some outstanding women in restaurant and foodservice. Please help us shout out to the heroes in your organization this International Women's Day, March 8. We want to hear from you if you have a woman restaurant owner, chef or sommelier. Can you please send an email here: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY and include the following information.
- Name and role of the person who want us to feature
- Name of the restaurant
- Something about their food or service philosophy
- A photo
- Something about why you or your company are proud of them
- Company social accounts

2. BCRFA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The BCRFA Annual General meeting for fiscal 2019-2020 will take place on Monday, March 8 at 10:00am on zoom. To pre-register your attendance please visit: BCRFA AGM.

3. Greater Victoria Business Awards. This week the finalists were announced for the 2021 Greater Victoria Business Awards, we want to congratulate BCRFA CEO/President Ian Tostenson for being a finalist in the category of Business Person of the Year. A congratulations to BCRFA Members who also made finalists in the following categories: TUTTI Delivery, ​Business of the Year (11-39 Employees) and Moduurn, ​Business of the Year (1-10 Employees). Winners will be announced on May 15th, to see a list of all finalists in each category visit: Greater Victoria Business Awards.

4. Dine Around Delta. We Love Delta's first Delta Dine Around takes place March 12-28.  Ladner, Tsawwassen and North Delta restaurants can sign up today to be part of this celebration of local business and local eating for just $125 + GST (restaurant fees subsidized by Tourism Delta). Email us to register or get more info.


5.  LOWER MAINLAND EMPLOYMENT GRANTS: The Youth Employment Bootcamp Program at the Robert Lee YMCA in Vancouver is currently looking for employers to take part in their job training program.  They run employment programming and workshops for young people 15-30 years old that are looking for work in the lower mainland. They then set up work placements for twelve weeks following their training with the aim this leads into an ongoing position.  For you this gives you access to a ready to work talent pool (15-30 yrs), trained with certificates relevant to the job such as First Aid CPR-C, Food Safe, World Host, Serving it right. Some candidates are recent graduates of post-secondary school programs.  A $10-$15/hour wage subsidy is available for the first 12 weeks of full-time employment. This is a savings of $3,600 - $5,400 for employers. Learn more: HERE. If this is of interest please contact their program manager by email here: Nicolas Tellez-Espana

6. MODUURN: The BCRFA recently announced our partnership with Moduurn. BCRFA members receive preferred pricing, to learn more visit: MODUURN, and click HERE. Moduurn has also shared a 90 Day Success Story: HERE

7. Dine Around Comox Valley. Dine Around Comox Valley returns this spring, if you are a Comox Valley area restaurant and would like to receive more information please send an email here: Dine Around Comox Valley

8. February FREE Marketing Feature: Shared Plates. February is a month of family celebrations - marked by Valentine's, Family Day and Lunar New Year. To celebrate togetherness in COVID-style, we want to feature your best shared plates for dine-in or take-away.  To have your offer featured, email us(info@bcrfa.com) with your Instagram ready shared plates. Here is what we are looking for:

  • a description of your dish,

  • local products featured (item, producers, processors, farmers),

  • your social media account handles,

  • any hashtags you like to use,

  • suggested local pairings (beer, wine), and

  • a picture or two.

Great news this trend also works for people with a range of tastes as each person can try things that look good to them. One lucky restaurant who submits an entry will receive a gift pack from Russell Hendrix to help them elevate their shared plate game in the future.

9. DOWNLOADABLE GUIDES. The BCRFA has created a number of new guides to help restaurants and employers. You can view and download off of the BCRFA website here: RESOURCES.
New Guides include:
Free December Marketing Feature: Charcuterie
2020 Holiday Idea Book for Restaurants
COVID-19 Restaurant Marketing
Free November Marketing Feature: Winter Warming Soups
The Next Pivot: Preparing to maximize take away this fall/winter
Frequently Asked Questions: Patio Extensions
10 Tips for Successful Expanded Winter Patios
Helping Restaurant Teams Manage Mental Health During COVID-19

10. Dine Around & Stay in Town Victoria has been extended, to learn more read the media release here: DINE AROUND & STAY IN TOWN VICTORIA

11. CALLING FOR NEW MEMBERS! The BCRFA is a member based organization we thank our members for your support and invite those of you who are not members to LEARN MORE and join our association. SIGN ME UP.

Questions about your membership? Send us an email HERE

REMINDERS.
1. CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS: 
Food and Liquor Serving Premises. View order: HERE
Gatherings and Events. View order: HERE

2. E-Commerce Grant + Small and Medium Sized Business Grant consideration. The BCRFA recently announced that Moduurn has become one of our line-up of partners offering commission-free white label mobile ordering. The BCRFA is encouraging restaurants to apply for both grants and to speak with Moduurn in regards to using some of the funds to digitally advance your websites to better accommodate consumers increasing demands for convenient ordering. To learn more on the grants see points #4 and #5 below and to learn more how Moduurn can help your business visit: Moduurn

3. ALACRITY CANADA DIGITAL MARKETING BOOTCAMP GRANT. The Alacrity Canada Digital Marketing Bootcamp is a virtual skills-training program that aims to prepare your business for the digital marketplace. This intensive learning program involves daily experiential learning as well as mentorship sessions with marketing experts to help equip you with the knowledge, tools, and resources you need to thrive as a marketer. By the end of this Bootcamp, you will be ready to grow your business with a real understanding of how your work can contribute to and shape the marketing process. Applications are currently being received, you can apply: HERE

4. SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESS GRANTS: On January 26 the BCRFA along with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation held an information session on applying for the grant. For those that may have missed it please find links here with content shared.
BUSINESS GRANT PRESENTATION
INFORMATION SHEET
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
COVID-19 SUPPORTS FOR NON-PROFITS

5. BC GOVERNMENT LAUNCHES NEW GRANT PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES. From the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. The B.C. government is investing $12 million to help businesses launch or upgrade an online store that will provide the platform they need to increase their sales revenues, become more competitive and grow. Up to 25% of the program funds will be reserved for regional and Indigenous businesses. These grants will provide business owners, including those in hard-hit sectors such as retail, tourism and restaurants, with up to $7,500 to build or improve their online store and promote BuyBC at a local, national and international level. Learn more and apply: E-COMMERCE GRANT

6. MANUAL: BEST HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR THE BC FOODSERVICE INDUSTRY. Successful management of our Human Resources - our team, our employees - is the core of every restaurant. BCRFA is here to help you succeed in all aspects of your business. Your employees cost you 30-35% of your monthly operating expenses. When replacing an employee who has quit or you have had to terminate can cost thousands of dollars, good Human Resources management is a vital part of a restaurant's ability to succeed. This manual is broken down into 19 sections, each tackling unique areas of managing people. BCRFA members can now access and download this in our members area. If you would like to receive a printed copy of the manual we can print and ship for $25. If you would like to order a hard copy or are not a current BCRFA member and would like this valuable resource please contact our membership team: MEMBERSHIP

7. Wholesale pricing. Ensure you have set up your account to access this pricing model here:REGISTER. Registered users should download the current catalogue for wholesale pricing. Download here: CATALOGUE 

8. SYSCO FoodiesUnite: What is FoodiesUnite? Restaurants are invited to take part in this program taking place January 4-February 22, 2021. Foodies Unite is all about supporting local restaurants and making a positive impact on the industry as a whole.  Sysco’s primary goal is to help restaurants by encouraging Canadians to dine in, order take away or delivery and share your meal experience on social networks using the #FoodiesUnite in support of the Canadian Foodservice Industry.  A full FAQ and details are HERE. For a list of participants confirmed to date view online HERE.

9. MEMBERSHIP DUES PAYMENTS. We have now implemented a monthly membership payment option to help you with your monthly budgeting. This new option allows you to spread your memberships into 12 monthly payments instead of paying on your anniversary date. If you have an outstanding invoice and would like to pay using our monthly payment program please contact accounting@bcrfa.com. We have frozen membership fees for the current period, membership invoices are distributed on a monthly basis, if you have received an invoice please pay promptly

10. WESTERN LIVING MAGAZINE 2021 FOODIES OF THE YEAR FINALISTS. Congratulations to all 40 finalists including our own Ian Tostenson and BCRFA Members Meaghan and Steve Clark (Tractor), Shane Munn (Martin’s Lane), we hope to see you all in the top 10 released next month. For a full list of finalists visit: FINALISTS FOODIES OF THE YEAR.

BCRFA IN THE NEWS.

Restaurants and our industry continue to be a popular topic with all media outlets. Here are a few articles that have been distributed this week where Ian Tostenson, CEO/President of the BCRFA has been asked to comment.

BCRFA COVID-19 UpdateAleah Chaytor