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Publisher:

ASSOCIATION RESTAURATION QUÉBEC

Editor-in-chief: Nicolas Boullé

Writers: Kelly Asselin-Tousignant | Nicolas Boullé | Dominique Tremblay | Martin Vézina | Vincent Woerner

Graphic design: LMG and Alegria Design

Advertising Tel.: 514 527-9801/1 800 463-4237

ARQ Info is published six times a year by the public affairs department of Association Restauration Québec. The articles may be reproduced without permission, provided that the source is mentioned.

Legal Deposit:

Bibliothèque Nationale du Québec

Bibliothèque Nationale du Canada 494386 D

No ISSN : 1199-3472

ASSOCIATION RESTAURATION QUÉBEC

6880, Louis-H.-La Fontaine Montréal (Québec) H1M 2T2

Tel.: 514 527-9801 or toll free, 1 800 463-4237

Email: respub@restauration.org restauration.org

The mission of the Association is to provide all of restaurateurs in Quebec complete services of information, training, discounts, insurance and government representation.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2023-2024

Chairperson of the Board of Directors:

Ms Danielle Beaulieu, HôtelMortagne(Boucherville)

Vice-chairperson:

Mr. Tony Priftakis, SaveursdesContinentsrestaurants (Gatineau)

Secretary Treasurer:

Mr. Éric Marin, ChezMilotrestaurant (Sainte-Adèle)

ARQ CEO: Mr. Laurence-Olivier Malouin-Trudel

Administrators:

Mr. Billy Bastien, BuvetteThérèse(Percé)

Mr. Steeve Gros-Louis, Sagamitérestaurant (Wendake)

Ms Valérie Kennedy, SteakhouseSt-Charles (Sainte-Thérèse)

Mr. Martin Lévesque, TraiteurL’EspritFaim(La Prairie)

Mr. Jean-Philippe Martin, ComplexeLaviolette(Trois-Rivières)

Mr. Érick Tremblay, Resto-PubBelles&Bum(La Malbaie)

Ex officio chairman:

Mr. Hugues Philippin, ChicAlors! restaurant (Québec)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024-2025

Danielle Beaulieu Re-Elected as Chair of the Board

The ARQ is pleased to announce that Danielle Beaulieu, owner of Hôtel Mortagne (Boucherville), will continue her term as chairperson of its board of directors for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Danielle Beaulieu’s appointment was confirmed at the ARQ’s Annual General Meeting in Shawinigan on November 12. The executive Committee is joined by Tony Priftakis, of restaurants Saveurs des Continents (Gatineau), who continues his mandate as vice-chairperson, and Érick Tremblay, of Resto-Pub Belles & Bum (La Malbaie), who has been appointed secretary-treasurer.

As a member of the ARQ board of directors since 2019, Danielle Beaulieu will continue to share her experience and expertise as a hotel and restaurant industry business owner to drive forward the many issues on which the Association is working. Those issues include, notably, no-shows, tips sharing, the MEV-WEB, labour scarcity and the abolition of the duty stamps. Environmental issues will

also be of great interest to all the members of the board of directors, as the extension of the deposit-refund system for drink containers is fast approaching.

The 2024-2025 financial year also began with the arrival of two new members on the board of directors: Yves Pineault, from the Auberge du Lac Taureau (Saint-Michel-des-Saints), and Frédéric Escotte, from the Darquise (Mont-Tremblant). They will both serve as administrators.

Rounding out the board of directors are Valérie Kennedy of Steakhouse St-Charles (Sainte-Thérèse), Steeve Gros-Louis of Restaurant Sagamité (Wendake), Billy Bastien of Buvette Thérèse (Percé), Jean-Philippe Martin of Complexe Laviolette (Trois-Rivières) and Laurence-Olivier M.-Trudel, CEO of the ARQ. Hugues Philippin, of restaurant Chic Alors! (Québec), who has been an active member of the board of directors of the ARQ since 2016, will continue his duties as ex officio president for a second year.

AS A MEMBER OF THE ARQ BOARD OF DIRECTORS SINCE 2019, DANIELLE BEAULIEU WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE HER EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AS A HOTEL AND RESTAURANT INDUSTRY BUSINESS OWNER TO DRIVE FORWARD THE MANY ISSUES ON WHICH THE ASSOCIATION IS WORKING.

The ARQ would like to extend its warmest thanks to Éric Marin of Chez Milot restaurant (Sainte-Adèle) and Martin Lévesque of Traiteur Esprit Faim (La Prairie) for their involvement on the board over the past few years.

From left to right: Laurence-Olivier M.-Trudel, CEO of the ARQ, Billy Bastien of Buvette Thérèse (Percé), Tony Priftakis, vice-president, of Saveurs des Continents (Gatineau), Frédéric Escotte of Darquise (Mont-Tremblant), Danielle Beaulieu, president, of Hôtel Mortagne (Boucherville), Hugues Philippin, ex officio president, of Chic Alors! (Québec), Yves Pineault, of Auberge du Lac Taureau (Saint-Michel-des-Saints), Steeve Gros-Louis, of Restaurant Sagamité (Wendake), Jean-Philippe Martin, of Complexe Laviolette (Trois-Rivières), Valérie Kennedy, of Steakhouse St-Charles (Sainte-Thérèse) and Érick Tremblay, of Resto-Pub Belles & Bum (La Malbaie), secretary-treasurer.

2023-2024 WRAP-UP

Building the Future

Proud of its 86 years of existence, the Association Restauration Québec is now, more than ever, on the move, and is firmly geared towards the future. During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the biggest grouping of the industry in Quebec set up numerous tools helping it to face coming years with trust and serenity.

Reflecting the industry it defends, the ARQ must remain agile, fulfill the needs of its members, and foreshadow the reality of the market in the coming years. In order to achieve those goals, the Association has produced many internal projects aiming to update its technologies, following the guidelines of an audit conducted by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in 2021-2022. Thus, news tools have been implanted, on top of some old ones being upgraded. Keystone of this operation: installing a new customer relationship management (CRM) software, one that is more efficient in managing members and their needs. After receiving several proposals of services, before analyzing them in depth, the ARQ decided on Membri, a Quebec solution based on Microsoft technology. This new CRM was officially launched on September 30, 2024.

The ARQ website has not been forgotten! It will also undergo a makeover. A design overhaul is currently taking place. The project begun in early summer 2024 and should be done by spring 2025. This new site will act as the ARQ’s central showcase for all its recruitment, loyalty, and information strategies toward members. They will benefit from a dedicated space where they will be able to make their transactions, consult privileged information and find out more about their Purchasing Program rebate. On the ARQ front, this new website will enable us to respond even more precisely to the needs of our members, whether in terms of benefits, information, or events to be organized.

REINFORCE, IMPROVE, AND DIVERSIFY PARTNERSHIPS

All aforementioned technological improvements have been specifically planned out to make operations flow more smoothly, easily add new services and partners to our Purchasing Program, and send out rebates even more effortlessly. It represents one of the ARQ’s main goals: to create, solidify, and maintain meaningful partnerships that help its members optimize their operations through a multitude of services and tools.

Indeed, that is how the ARQ managed to renew its agreement with Entegra. This renewal means that participating members can continue to benefit from advantageous prices and an enhanced 10% rebate on their purchases from the many manufacturers registered with Entegra. Numerous other agreements have also been renewed and improved, whether they be on the side of the Purchasing Program or in Member Services.

ROADMAP

The current fiscal year comes to an end along with the 2021-2024 strategic plan. Many targets included in this plan have since been met, notably updating technological tools, purchasing the head office, and supporting members in meeting their management challenges.

To steer the work of the ARQ and its actions for the next three years, a project to draw up a new strategic plan for the years 2024-2027 has been set up under the leadership of our new chief executive

officer, Laurence-Olivier Malouin-Trudel. This first plan of his will represent his vision for growth of the Association over the next three years.

The emphasis will be placed upon development, both internal and external, which includes the recognition of the ARQ as an Association touristique sectorielle (trans.: Sectoral Tourism Association), as well as the consolidation of the role of the ARQ as a reference for the restaurant industry.

The ARQ will also continue its exploratory work into creating a loyalty program for customers of member establishments, along the lines of what is done in grocery chains, for example. An expert assessment will be delivered in the first year of the plan.

In terms of internal development, the ARQ will be focusing on diversifying the services it offers its members, renovating its head office and managing human resources to ensure the development and retention of its teams.

2023-2024 WRAP-UP

Your Spokesperson

The Association Restauration Québec will continue to be on all fronts to defend its members and the industry as a whole in 2023-2024. It has remained the key contact when it comes to issues affecting the restaurant industry in Quebec.

Some issues come up cyclically, in response to current events or political interest. This was the case with the debate on the level of alcohol tolerated when driving, which resurfaced in the public sphere during consultations on Bill 48 on the Code de la sécurité routière (trans.: Highway Safety Code) in early February 2024. At the time, many people called for this level to be lowered from 80 to 50 mg/100 ml, i.e. from 0.08 to 0.05. Invited to take part in the public debate, the ARQ threw all its weight behind the arguments put forward by Quebec restaurateurs.

In the political and media spheres, your Association has repeated its message in favour of maintaining the authorized limit for alcohol levels at the wheel, while demonstrating that lowering it would not automatically lead to an improvement in road safety in Quebec. We were thus able to convince the government members not to accede to this request and to maintain the status quo.

NO-SHOWS

Throughout 2023-2024, the ARQ also raised the issue of no-shows — a real scourge in the restaurant industry — notably in September 2024, when the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, tabled his Bill 72 on consumer protection. To the ARQ’s disappointment, the changes contained in the text did not include any provision for non-honoured reservations. However, the Association had worked hard with government authorities, in particular the Office de protection du consommateur (OPC), to put an end to non-honoured reservations, by legislating on the issue and allowing modest financial penalties to be introduced.

Following the tabling of the bill, the ARQ invited the Minister to amend it so that

this solution could be implemented. Armed with compelling evidence and argumentation, your Association managed to bring further awareness on the issue of no-shows to the MNAs. More importantly, your Association managed to persuade the committee of the rightfulness of our solution.

Thus, Minister of Justice Simon JolinBarrette, who had previously shared his openness to address the issue afflicting the industry in response to our presentation on October 8, 2024, confirmed he was “currently working on the development of a regulatory framework” for no-shows.

MEV-WEB: CALLING FOR A SMOOTHER TRANSITION

The industry is about to undergo a major technological evolution with the arrival of the cloud-based version of the physical sales recording module (SRM, or MEV in French), the MEV-WEB. This new version must be installed in qualifying establishments by no later than August 31, 2025. The ARQ is concerned about this deadline and has informed the relevant authorities of its reasons, while proposing an alternative solution: a more gradual replacement of physical SRMs.

Your Association that advocates for a gradual replacement: when the physical SRM of a restaurant dies, the owner will have to migrate to the cloud solution. This would allow a more orderly transition period for the industry and would be more financially justified for establishments. Recalling that the transition to the online version of SRMs will have to be completed within less than a year, and taking into account the availability of resources among MEV-WEB certified system installers, the ARQ fears that several

restaurants will find themselves without an operational system next spring.

Your Association wants to avoid cases in which business owners would have to temporarily cease their activities due to the absence of an operational MEV-WEB within the prescribed timeframe. This is why it has proposed a more gradual replacement of physical SRMs with MEV-WEB.

MEV-WEB: A Three-Month Extension for Your Transition

Following numerous discussions with the government in connection with our request made last August, the ministère des Finances has decided to extend the deadline for the installation of MEV-WEB by three months. Initially scheduled for May 31, 2025, the deadline has now been set for August 31, 2025.

EXTENSION REQUIREMENTS

Despite this change, restaurateurs will still be required to have signed contract with a MEV-WEB supplier by May 31, 2025. Basically, you should have found your software provider by May 31, 2025, but will have until August 31, 2025, to implement your new system. You will also be required to make a backup copy of your physical SRMs on May 31, 2025, if the MEV-WEB is to be installed after that date.

Why choose August 31 as the new deadline? According to Revenu Québec, the security certificate for physical SRMs will expire at the end of August, and the devices cannot be updated remotely because they are unable to connect to a network. For this reason, the MEV-WEBs need to be up and running before the end of August.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT DOESN’T QUITE LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS

As the ARQ has been asking for a smoother transition for the installation of the MEV-WEB, as opposed to a strict deadline, the extension of the time limit for the implementation of this new technology is not entirely satisfactory. While the new deadline does provide a little more flexibility, the challenge will remain the same: a lack of installer resources combined with high demand in a short space of time will lead to a bottleneck.

The ARQ still believes that the solution it has proposed, i.e. the gradual replacement of physical SRMs by the MEV-WEB whenever the former become obsolete and are no longer able to function, is the best one. This would enable all the parties involved (suppliers, installers, the restaurant industry and Revenu Québec) to tackle this technological transition much more smoothly. Installers could simply have updated the security certificates of physical SRMs to ensure a fluid transition.

FINANCIAL COMPENSATION FOR PHYSICAL SRMS

Moreover, if you have purchased one or more physical (new) SRMs in recent years, did you know that a compensation program is available? Not only that, but a bill has recently been introduced to extend the scheme by a further two years.

The original compensation only covered physical SRMs purchased between October 31, 2021, and October 31, 2023. As soon as the proposed change is approved, physical SRMs purchased on or after October 31, 2019, will also be eligible, provided that your MEV-WEB is activated in your establishment no later than May 31, 2025. The ARQ had argued in favour of a longer period to accommodate a greater number of restaurateurs. The message has thus come through. Under this programme, you will receive $700 per eligible SRM.

THE MINISTÈRE DES FINANCES HAS DECIDED TO EXTEND THE DEADLINE FOR THE INSTALLATION OF MEV-WEB BY THREE MONTHS. INITIALLY SCHEDULED FOR MAY 31, 2025, THE DEADLINE HAS NOW BEEN SET FOR AUGUST 31, 2025

An End in Sight for Duty Stamps on Microbrewery Beers

Last December, a bill proposing numerous regulatory reliefs was introduced at the National Assembly. One of those proposed reliefs pertained to the removal of the duty stamp from bottles of microbrewery beer sold in licensed establishments. This proposal follows numerous joint representations to the government by the Association des microbrasseries du Québec and the ARQ.

FEWER ANNOYANCES

Passage of this bill would reduce major nuisances for operators, particularly those selling microbrewery beers, on which stamps are currently being applied. Removing the requirement to have duty stamps on the containers of these beers would avoid many of the problems faced by establishment operators. This proposal is therefore a gain that will hopefully snowball into a major one for the restaurant industry.

For the ARQ, this text is a good first step towards achieving the total abolition of this archaic system of affixing paper stamps to all bottles of alcoholic beverages intended for consumption on the premises of industry establishments. As you know, your Association has been campaigning for years for an alternative to this outdated means of control. We’ve made a breakthrough, now we need to build on it!

GETTING IT OVER WITH ONCE AND FOR ALL

The duty stamp is outdated, and the time has come for a modernized solution. One might consider that linking data on purchases made by the licensee with sales recorded in the Sales Recording Module (SRM) could make it possible to carry out the appropriate verifications: a

contemporary technological solution that could be implemented at a fraction of the cost of the current verification program.

The ARQ therefore believes that it is time to put an end to duty stamps once and for all and is calling on the Quebec government to continue its work on regulatory relief in order to quickly eliminate this obligation for all bottles of alcoholic beverages, including bottles of beer from major brewers, wine, and spirits.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS

The bill introduces other significant reliefs for our industry, some of which are the result of representation by the ARQ.

MAPAQ

- Withdraw the requirement to identify the number of hot and cold units in the permit application and pay additional related fees. This could mean a cost reduction for those with multiple retail fridges.

- Withdraw the requirement to identify a health and safety manager in the permit application, which would allow the application to be submitted and the training to be given at the same time, thereby avoiding delays.

- Remove the necessity for holders of wholesale permits (selling to other retail businesses) to have a

THE ARQ THEREFORE BELIEVES THAT IT IS TIME TO PUT AN END TO DUTY STAMPS ONCE AND FOR ALL AND IS CALLING ON THE QUEBEC GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE ITS WORK ON REGULATORY RELIEF

MAPAQ retail permit, so that they can also sell directly to customers. This would be in line with our request that our members be able to sell their ready-to-eat products in grocery stores. The ARQ must validate the wholesale permit requirements to see if restaurants can qualify at an interesting cost.

Liquor Licence

- Establishments with a licence to serve alcohol will be able to accept ready-to-drink spirits of less than 7% alcohol by volume.

- Police officers will be able to request any document proving the origin of the product from licensed establishments.

- An architectural or engineering technician may now sign the plans in an application for a liquor licence.

The ARQ Works For You Behind The Scenes

In recent weeks, the ARQ held several key meetings to discuss numerous current issues, while also taking part in various committees related to the restaurant industry.

MAPAQ LICENCE

A discussion was held with the assistant deputy minister of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêches et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), Guylaine Bouchard, on the progress of the matter of dogs on restaurant terraces. The ARQ asks that restaurant owners be granted the discretionary right to decide whether to accept dogs on the terrace of their establishment.

A meeting was also held with MAPAQ officials regarding the ARQ’s participation in a project aimed at requiring the MAPAQ permit number to be included in delivery

platform offers. The ARQ requests that only licenced establishments be allowed to sell through those platforms.

We also discussed bill 85, which proposes to allow restaurateurs to sell in grocery shops with their current MAPAQ licence, with the offices of the ministère de l’Économie and MAPAQ.

FOOD WASTE

The Association has also made representations to the city of Montréal, in connection with a bylaw on food waste, to ensure that the proposed legislation is not too restrictive for the industry.

GST BREAK

Your ARQ representatives had the opportunity to meet with the federal Minister of Tourism when the GST credit

WE ALSO DISCUSSED BILL 85, WHICH PROPOSES TO ALLOW RESTAURATEURS TO SELL IN GROCERY SHOPS WITH THEIR CURRENT MAPAQ LICENCE, WITH THE OFFICES OF THE MINISTÈRE DE L’ÉCONOMIE AND MAPAQ.

was announced. This was followed by discussions with the Ministry of Finance to validate its implementation and the related conditions of application.

MEV-WEB

On the topic of MEV-WEB, the ARQ had a meeting with the Comité consultatif externe de Revenu Québec (trans.: Revenu Québec’s External Advisory Committee)

The ARQ is continuing to press its message that the transition period to MEV-WEB should be extended (see page 8).

Expansion of the Deposit-Refund System Postponed to 2027

The ARQ welcomes favourably the decision of the Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks , Benoit Charette, to postpone the expansion of the deposit-refund system of glass bottles and multi-layer cardboard containers to 2027, a decision announced on November 28. The minister also mentioned that he had launched an administrative investigation into the Association québécoise de récupération des contenants de boissons (AQRCB), the body set up to manage the deposit reform.

STRAIGHT FOR THE WALL

The extension of the deposit-refund system was due to come into force on March 1. According to Benoit Charette, this second phase was “heading straight for the wall.” In particular, the minister highlighted the number of Consignaction return points, which has been “constantly reduced,” from 400 in the original plan, to 200, and then to less than a hundred recently. According to Benoit Charette, only around 30 of these sites could have opened by next spring. “Far, far from enough,” said the minister, who has

therefore decided to postpone his reform for another two years.

Glass containers that are not yet consigned, such as bottles of wine, spirits or water, as well as multi-layer containers (milk and juice), will therefore be subject to the deposit-refund system in 2027.

Note, however, that the extension on March 1 will still apply to plastic containers that are not yet returnable, such as water bottles.

The ARQ will be closely monitoring the progress of this project, in particular the forthcoming collection of plastic containers.

Protecting Personal Data in Your Restaurant

Leaks of personal or sensitive data, particularly in the banking sector, have made headlines in Quebec in recent years. However, it’s not just the financial sector that can be targeted by the wrong people. All industries are at risk, including the restaurant industry.

Despite your local diner not being the first thought that comes to mind when tackling the subject of data protection, it’s not just big corporations that need to take steps to prevent data leaks.

According to data compiled by the Canadian Survey of Cyber Security and Cybercrime (CSCSC) for the year 2023, 16% of Canadian businesses have been affected by cybersecurity incidents. This number is closely followed by the 14% of small businesses (up to 49 employees) that experienced such attacks during the same period. Obviously, most Quebec restaurants belong in the small business category, thus being likely to fall victim to this type of incident.

It is accordingly important to consider the implications for your business, both for the personal data of your staff and that of your customers. And no need to break the bank for that!

YOUR GREATEST VULNERABILITY

Alina Dulipovici, associate professor in the department of information technology at HEC Montréal and deputy director at the Multidisciplinary Institute for Cybersecurity and Cyber Resilience, encourages you to start by “reflecting on your own risks, your own vulnerabilities.”

Above all, Professor Dulipovici wishes to “make business owners aware of their greatest vulnerability: the human factor.” Whether it be a member of your staff accidently sending confidential information by email, a gawker reading files inadvertently left open on your desk, or negligence regarding protective practices within the team, the human element poses the greatest risk to the integrity of sensitive data protection.

ASSESSING YOUR RISKS OF DATA LEAK

To assess their risks, the IT expert recommends restaurateurs use a tool called Réaliser une évaluation des facteurs relatifs àlavieprivéeGuided’accompagnementà la démarche et à sa documentation (trans.: Carrying out a privacy impact assessment Guide to the process and its documentation) on the website of the Commission d’accès à l’information.

This guide will help you decide on the best methods for your situation and industry within the limits of “reasonable responsibility” under the Act to modernize legislative provisions as regards the protection of personal information, commonly referred to as Law 25.

You will then be able to determine the type of personal data you gather, how you use and handle it, where it is stored physically or digitally and whether it is retained or destroyed over time.

BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY

Once you completed the assessment of “your acceptable level of risks,” Dulipovici recommends business owners “take measures according to that level,” because your risk tolerance will determine the appropriate steps to take.

The associate professor mentions “cyber hygiene,” which encompasses simple practices to lower your business’ digital risks. These include “restricting system accesses to the people who need it for work-related purposes “ and backing up your data in a safe location. Better be safe than sorry, as a data leak could cost you dearly in reputation, as well as on the legal or financial front.

BEYOND DIGITAL

Dulipovici also states that “protecting information is not limited to IT systems.” In your establishment, in addition to digitalized data, the professor points to documents that could be at risk, including “paper employee files” that are not protected under lock and key or “the reservations binder containing contact information and the names of your customers.”

Furthermore, all those documents contain indirect data that malevolent people “could combine to extract more information.” Thus, keeping sensitive documents under lock and key or destroying those that are no longer necessary can make your job much easier and prevent major problems in the future. To properly initiate your journey toward protecting the information you collect, you can also refer to our Politique de confidentialité et de gestion de renseignements personnels (trans.:Privacy and Personal Information Management Policy), available on our website (in French only).

ACCORDING TO DATA

COMPILED BY THE CANADIAN SURVEY OF CYBER SECURITY AND CYBERCRIME (CSCSC) FOR THE YEAR 2023, 16% OF CANADIAN BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY CYBERSECURITY INCIDENTS.

Côté Est Brings Prix restaurateur Aliments du Québec au menu Home

Congratulations to Côté Est restaurant (ARQ member) in Bas-Saint-Laurent, winner of the Prix restaurateur Aliments du Québec au menu. The award was presented at the Gala Aliments du Québec au menu on November 18, 2024, in Montréal, which marked the first decade of the program.

The Kamouraska establishment was selected as one of three finalists who were announced at the end of October, selected from a total of fifteen businesses initially shortlisted for the award.

A WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION

Côté Est, a small establishment specializing in creative gastronomy inspired by its region, has been run by co-owners Perle Morency and chef Kim Côté since it was founded in 2012. It’s housed in a magnificent heritage building in the heart of the village of Kamouraska in Bas-Saint-Laurent.

The restaurant puts the unique flavours of the region at the forefront of its dishes, combining coastline, farmland and forest. According to Aliments du Québec, the members of the jury who had the chance to eat there were seduced by “the famous Kamouraska eel and other regional specialities.”

PRIX RESTAURATEUR ALIMENTS DU QUÉBEC AU MENU

Now in its seventh year, the Prix restaurateur Aliments du Québec au menu is designed to reward restaurants in the program that stand out for their commitment to sourcing, using and showcasing Quebec food.

The Aliments du Québec au menu programme was created jointly by Aliments du Québec and the Association Restauration Québec. There are more than 940 committed restaurants and 840 recognized institutions that feature Quebec products on their menus.

ÉCO ENTREPRISES QUÉBEC FEES

A Significant Increase for Some Producers

On November 28, 2024, the Minister of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks, Benoit Charette, announced the postponement of the deposit-refund on glass and multi-layer carton beverage containers to 2027. As a result of this decision, these containers, which should have been excluded from selective collection, are now back, and Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) has had to revise its rates accordingly.

The producers’ financial participation (PFP), i.e. those who introduce containers, packaging, and printed products onto the market, has had to be revised upwards,

resulting in a very high annual bill for some producers, causing a very unexpected and significant financial impact.

Although the PFP 2025 payment will be made in four instalments instead of the original three, producers are still frustrated by this turn on a dime.

It it is worth noting that the vast majority of ARQ members are exempt from the payment base, due to the exemption criteria for small businesses:

• During the reference year, they released onto the market one or more materials with a total weight less than or equal to 1 metric tonne.

• Their income, proceeds or sales in Quebec for the same period are less than or equal to $$1.3 million.

• They have a single point of sale that is not supplied or operated under a franchise, chain or banner.

The ARQ will pursue its position on this issue by working with the ÉEQ.

Dedicated, from Insurance to Financial Services

Lussier, a leading force in your region for over a century, is now Lussier.

We are here to listen, advise and provide the same dedication as we always have across all regions of Quebec.

Our mission remains the same: To find the best way to protect our client’s human and financial assets.

With Global Payments, you can seamlessly accept payments in-person, in-app, online or on-the-go — so you can take your business anywhere.

Discover our freshly renewed vision.

RDV Élan 2024: Redefining the Future of the Restaurant Industry

The 2024 edition of the ARQ’s annual event took on November 12, at the Espace Shawinigan, in Shawinigan, a place conductive to innovation and creativity. The RDV Élan 2024, a renewed format and name, included both conferences and a discovery trail.

The ARQ had designed a content-rich program in collaboration with experts in the restaurant industry, in order to pique your curiosity and give you better tools to excel in your profession.

Following the annual general assembly of members which took place at the start of the morning, there were discussions on the work your Association has accomplished in 2023-2024, as well as with the food services management of the Olympic Village of Paris 2024 and on the vision of the SAQ Restauration.

OPEN AND HONEST DISCUSSIONS

Québécois chef Stéphane Lo Ré got to share his unique experience during the 2024 Paris Olympics, as Lo Ré was at the head of the one of the busiest restaurants in the heart of the Olympic Village. Stéphane’s outspoken delivery brought to life the major challenge he overcame, which had all the makings of a culinary marathon.

For her part, Ariane de Warren, director of Sales – business customers at the SAQ, brilliantly outlined her new vision for client relations at SAQ Restauration. She

emphasised the need to improve the service offering and support in order to better meet the needs of this distinct clientele.

The ARQ had designed a content-rich program in collaboration with experts in the restaurant industry, in order to pique your curiosity and give you better tools to excel in your profession.

Restaurateurs and suppliers actively took part in the workshops.

Ariane de Warren , director of sales – business Customers at the SAQ, questioned by Nicolas Boullé, head of communications at the ARQ.

TOOLS AND DISCUSSIONS

During the discovery trail, restaurateurs will be able to learn more about food waste recovery with La Tablée des Chefs, food processing to limit food waste with La Transformerie, technological support with the ITHQ Centre of Expertise or the job placement program for asylum

seekers by the Conseil québécois des ressources humaines en tourisme (CQRHT). These workshops were a great success.

The RDV Élan 2024, presented by Édika, could not be possible without our partners’ precious collaboration: Global Payments, Tourisme Québec, TELUS Health,

Entegra, SIAL Canada, American Express, Objectif Tourisme (a CQRHT initiative), ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec, SAQ Restauration, Molson, and Gastronomia.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS:

Stéphane Lo Ré, chef and unit managing director at Sodexo Canada, enthousiastically shared his adventure at the Olympics!

Didier Reolon, executive director at Edika, official presenter of the RDV Élan 2024.

The RDV Élan 2024 was hosted by ARQ CEO, Laurence-Olivier M.-Trudel.

The attendees paid close attention and were quick to whip out their cell phones to help them remember.

SALON ARQ CONTACTS MAURICIE/CENTRE-DU-QUÉBEC

Dozens of Booths Awaited Visitors

The Salon ARQ Contacts Mauricie/Centredu-Québec was held on November 12, 2024, at the majestic Espace Shawinigan in the town of the same name. Close to 70 businesses attended the event to introduce their products and services to

professionals from the hotel, restaurant, and institution (HRI) sector.

Through these regional events, the Association Restauration Québec seeks to make life easier for industry players by reaching out to them and offering them

direct contact with a supplier. Among those suppliers are always included at least a dozen local biofood processors in order to promote them and encourage local food sourcing.

The event was also made possible thanks to the valuable collaboration of our partner, SAQ Restauration.

NEXT EVENTS :

• MONTÉRÉGIE

February 17, 2025

Centre des Congrès de Saint-Hyacinthe

• SAGUENAY−LAC-SAINT-JEAN

May 6, 2025

Hôtel Delta Saguenay by Mariott and Centre des Congrès (Jonquière)

A FEW PHOTOS FROM THIS HISTORIC EVENT:

Visitors and representatives of the many companies present were able to meet and chat with each other.

Plenty of quality products are always displayed by local businesses proud of their creations.

Advantages of ARQ Membership

The mission of the Association Restauration Québec (ARQ) is to provide all member restaurateurs throughout Quebec with comprehensive information, training, discounts, insurance, and government representation services. Today, it is composed of 5 000 members!

composed of nearly 5 300 members!

SAVINGS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thanks to several major partnerships, ARQ members can benefit from significant savings on their daily fees.

Potential saving of $11,000 per year, and more:

ARQ’s Purchasing Program

purchase program

Legal or accounting services

LARGEST PURCHASING PROGRAM IN QUEBEC!

ARQ Purchasing Programm has made considerable

Since 2006, the Programmed’achatsPrivilègePlu$ (PAPP) has made considerable savings possible for ARQ members, while also obtaining discounts on their purchases from over 100 partners!

The ARQ purchasing program:

> Almost 3 000 participating members;

> A “wine and spirits” offer;

> $4,200,000 in kickbacks provided in 2020-2021;

> A purchase volume of $149 million from program partners.

$6,300,000 $213 costs. savings of 3,000

$9,000,000 2023-2024; $325

ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR INFORMATION!

Did you know that ARQ members have access to information officers who can answer any questions regarding legislation, regulation, and other restaurant-related matters? It’s simple and free of charge (service included in membership).

DEFENDING YOUR INTERESTS!

The ARQ is a key player and an essential voice in all matters that may in some form affect restaurants in Quebec. Some results achieved by the ARQ:

> Relaxation of laws and regulations governing alcohol sale and service;

> COVID-19 federal and provincial assistance;

> Implementation of the single permit per establishment category;

> Maintenance of tax credit for reporting tips.

To simplify members’ lives, the ARQ has created an entirely and exclusively reserved area on its website, restauration.org. Primarily used to manage transactions, the Member Area allows you to renew your membership online with a single click, manage your profile, and view exclusive documents.

AS EASY AS 1 2 3

To create your account, visit the ARQ website at restauration.org and click on either of the two “Member Area” icons on the homepage. You will then be redirected to the home page of the Member Area. Click on “Créer votre compte” and follow the instructions displayed. To login for your first time, you will need your membership number which you can find on your membership certificate or on your membership or renewal invoice.

If you need help to create your account, please contact the ARQ at 514-527-9801 or toll free at 1-800-463-4237!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2024-2025

Claudine Roy Reappointed as Chairperson

The Fondation ARQ is delighted to introduce its new board of directors for 2024-2025, who have been elected during the last general assembly on November 26. Those elected are committed to ensuring the objectives of the Fondation are brought

to fruition, as well as making sure the activities scheduled on the calendar are carried out in order to further the Fondation’s influence.

Led by this dynamic and involved 2024-2025 board of directors, the Fondation will

2023-2024 IN REVIEW

accomplish its plans and elaborate its next strategic plan to fulfill its mission. Its directors will work together so that the Fondation can achieve its goals, thus ensuring the promotion of education and training in the restaurant industry.

Rewarding Emerging Talent

During the 2023-2024 financial year, the Fondation ARQ took part in the promotion of education and training in the restaurant industry through concrete means. The organization pursued the main objective of its mandate, that is, rewarding emerging talent by offering grants to meritorious students taking part in various specialization programs in educational establishments throughout Quebec.

The granted bursaries total nearly $89 000.

The Fondation ARQ will continue its fundraising campaigns over the coming year. Those will include a new activity in March 2025, a cocktail reception presented by Lactalis, as well as the tried-and-true golf tournament on June 4, and the ongoing search for partnerships. Indeed, without the support of its precious partners, the Fondation ARQ could not carry out its various activities. Our warmest thanks to all for your contribution!

Read our complete review here (in French):

Claudine Roy Chairperson Entrepreneur and Adm. of organizations

Alexandre Grégoire Secretarytreasurer TELUS Health

Rosalie Dubé Centre Bell

Hugues Philippin Vice-chairperson Chic Alors!

Frédéric Fortin École Hôtelière de la Montérégie

Alain Mailhot Consultant

Elodie Richard President, executive director Fondation ARQ

Auction Raises Over $18 000!

The auction final took place on November 12 during the RDV Élan 2024 of the ARQ. Over $18 000 was raised thanks to our many donors.

This amount will serve to grant bursaries to students in hospitality programs at educational establishments in Quebec.

Elodie Richard, president-executive director of the Fondation ARQ, and Laurence-Oliver M-Trudel, CEO of the ARQ.

A Welcome Financial Help FUNDRAISING

BURSARIES

The Fondation ARQ is happy to announce a new collaboration with Resto Plateau. Graduating students in the assistant cook training provided by the Montréal-based organization will receive a bursary from the Fondation ARQ. Some of these grants will be handed out in collaboration with Colabor, with whom a “Fiers donateurs” (trans.: Proud donors)-level partnership agreement was just inked. Moreover, thanks to Aliments ATG, 17 students in the Cooking DEP at the Institut d’alimentation et d’hôtellerie of the Centre de formation professionnelle Bel-Avenir will be awarded with bursaries at

the beginning of their program so that they can acquire the proper equipment for their training, thus encouraging them in their path to success.

Finally, the Fondation ARQ wishes to congratulate Rose Tremblay, Anabelle Huneault and Purushothama Pani Pondi. Those three students at the Institut de tourisme et de l’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) have been awarded a grant as part of their next work placement to complete their respective DEP training courses in Fine Dining Restaurant Service, Hotel Management, and Culinary Arts.

The Fondation ARQ’s mission is to promote education among students and workers in the industry by awarding scholarships, thereby encouraging them to develop and perfect their skills and qualifications.

Fondation ARQ is involved in and plans various activities, campaigns and events dedicated to encouraging excellence and the development of workforce training in the restaurant industry.

Rose Tremblay Purushothama Pani Pondi

Proud partners

PIZZA DOUGHS AND PIE CRUSTS

Welcoming Boulangerie Humanité

A new partner is joining the ranks of the ARQ’s Purchasing Program: Boulangerie Humanité! The company represents leading names in the baking industry, such as Chef Dumas and Chef François Hubert. Together, those brands offer a diverse range of bakery and pastry products for supermarkets as well as for restaurants and catering businesses.

REBATE OF 2% ON YOUR PURCHASES

Since January 1, 2025, the ARQ’s Purchasing Program has included a member-only benefit in the form of a 2% rebate on pizza and pie doughs or crusts, and vol-au-vent products purchased exclusively at Gordon Food Services.

Boulangerie Humanité’s wide range of bakery and pastry products allows you to create a unique partnership with specialized local companies.

In frozen products, the new Purchasing Program partner offers unbaked vol-au-vent, puff pastry, delicious pizza balls, and pie crusts.

When it comes to fresh baked goods, Boulangerie Humanité offers vol-au-vent, croissants and pound cakes in a range of popular flavours made by Maison Isabelle.

A TRUSTED PARTNER

Boulangerie Humanité’s main mission is to simplify the lives of restaurant owners by offering a portfolio of specialized bakery

and patisserie businesses throughout Quebec.

Take advantage of a 2% discount on your purchases of baked goods from Boulangerie Humanité by using Gordon Food Service.

COCA-COLA CANADA

Nestea Products Give Way to Fuze Iced Teas

In December 2024, Coca-Cola Canada substituted its offer of Nestea products for the Fuze iced teas. This transition is an opportunity for restaurateurs to offer their customers a more modern and innovative iced tea option. The Fuze iced teas distinguish themselves with their fresh and natural flavours, prepared with infused tea leaves without powder extracts, thus ensuring a superior quality and freshness.

For restaurateurs, this change comes with a variety of advantages:

• Client satisfaction: consumers are increasingly demanding and are looking for authentic and nutritive products. By offering the Fuze iced teas, you meet this growing demand and better the experience of your customers.

• Superior quality: Fuze is all about quality, with natural ingredients that enhance the taste and freshness of every glass. This improvement is an asset for building customer loyalty.

• Visibility and marketing: the launch of Fuze will be the biggest in Canada in the iced tea category, accompanied by a robust marketing campaign. This increased visibility will benefit your establishment by attracting new customers.

• Adapting to market trends: the market is moving toward healthier beverage options. By incorporating Fuze into your menu, you show that your establishment is at the cutting edge of trends and concerned about the health of its customers.

Make sure to include Fuze iced teas as part of your next order to offer this new product to your customers. Get up to $4 in rebates per case on Coca-Cola products sold directly or through Gordon Food Services!

We Pay Tribute to the Involvement of These Companies in Our Organization

GESTION-TRAITEUR

Because your time is precious, the priority at Gestion-Traiteur is to simplify your working weeks with an all-in-one software “from the Web to the kitchen.” As a caterer or readyto-eat restaurant, their software will allow you to manage your business from anywhere and reduce your on-site working hours.

Sylvain Dupont Tel: 514 400-9971 gestiontraiteur.com

LA FERME TROTTEUSE

The Ferme Trotteuse Coop is a diversified organic market-garden farm located in Sainte-Marie-deBlandford in Centre-du-Québec, where working with horses plays a significant role. Since 2016, the farm has been producing vegetables, chicken and free-range eggs, all certified organic by Ecocert Canada.

Elisabeth Gagné Tel: 819 990-1882 lafermetrotteuse.com

VIGNOBLE LE FIEF DE LA RIVIÈRE

The Fief de la rivière name was officially adopted for the vineyard in 2009. That same year, passion and hard work paid off: four varieties of wine were produced and marketed under the “Globul” name. This name evokes the nobility of wine... and the medical profession to which Jocelyn Hébert has dedicated his entire life.

Jocelyn Hébert

Tel: 819 801-2195 lefiefdelariviere.ca

HAMAK

Hamak is a marketing agency specialized in performance-based advertizing. Whether you are looking to generate online sales or attract more customers to your restaurant, their mission is clear: maximize your return on advertising investment. As experts in digital advertizing, particularly on Google, Hamak is committed to offering their customers optimum visibility.

Arnaud Boyer Tel: 514 667-9474 hamak.ca

FÉDÉRATION DES PRODUCTEURS D’ŒUFS DU QUÉBEC

This organisation defends the economic interests of its members and administers funds to promote eggs.

TABLE AGROALIMENTAIRE DU SAGUENAY– LAC-SAINT-JEANZONE BORÉALE

The mission of the organization is to promote, support and implement projects and actions related to the challenges facing the food processing sector, in conjunction with its various stakeholders.

Nancy Ouellet

Tel: 418 668-3592 zoneboreale.com/la-tableagroalimentaire

MAISON AROMATE

With Maison Aromate, discover the premium experience of Quebec garlic, a refined local product.

LEVITTS

Levitts is a key player in the biofood industry that never compromises on quality. It uses no soya, gluten, GMOs, sulphites, or nitrites in its manufacturing methods.

Marie-Isabel Martineau Tel: 450 679-0530 oeuf.ca

BOULANGERIE HUMANITÉ

Boulangerie Humanité is a large, unpretentious family of fine companies with enviable expertise in the bakery sector: Aliments 2000, Chef Dumas and Chef François Hubert offer a range of bakery and pastry products every day in all supermarkets and for all food service and catering companies.

Alain Poudrier

Tel: 418 658-2037 boulangeriehumanite.ca

Geneviève Bériault Tel: 819 216-1614 maisonaromate.com

PLANIFICO

Join hundreds of other companies and eliminate all your scheduling hassles in less than an hour.

Manuel Barreira Tel: 438 951-1654 levitts.ca/services-alimentaires

ROYAL KLEOS

Their fully integrated services bridge the gap between operational and administrative management, guaranteeing comprehensive support for the diverse needs of customers, while striving for perfectionism.

Roy Rizk Tel: 639 382-1703 royalkleos.ca

CHARCUTERIE LIGNÉE RR2

Their different fermentation, salting and smoking techniques enable them to offer 100% natural charcuterie and smoked meats. Their seasonings are perfectly balanced to offer products with original flavours.

Jean-François Dubé Tel: 888 308-8360 planifico.co

Christian Béland

Tel: 418 507-9095 ligneerr2.com