As the new post-pandemic normal settles in and people adapt to a context of uncertainty, constant adversities, and pessimism, we are moving away from a moment in which consumers expected brands to rise up to society's challenges and into one when they’re demanding genuine allyship from businesses.

Casual dining restaurants faced a grave threat during the pandemic, one that many people thought would spell the end for the whole industry. In 2022, though, casual dining restaurants are back. How did they survive the pandemic? And what can brands learn from their success?

As rising inflation pummels people’s finances and forces some to cut back on food spending, brands are stepping up to remind them that shopping on a budget doesn’t have to mean settling for lower quality. Asda’s Steak Bay pop-up restaurant emphasises the quality of its low-cost yet premium meats.

How can people treat themselves in a recession? Will eating out remain a mainstay? How can brands provide accessible nutrition as food prices soar? In this part of the 2023 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how the cost of living crisis is impacting eating and drinking habits.

A study has found that Canadians are sticking to their Thanksgiving traditions despite higher grocery costs due to inflation. This insistence on spending demonstrates the importance people place on celebrating meals together, and this may continue as the cost of living limits how often they eat out.