TORONTO — According to a new survey commissioned by Square, 72 per cent of Canadians plan to spend more time vacationing in Canada and enjoying local restaurants this year — an increase attributed to the current political climate.
According to Square data, Canada Day weekend is an important revenue driver for the industry. In 2024, bars and restaurants using Square to run and grow their businesses saw a 36-per-cent nationwide sales jump over the July 1st holiday weekend — building on a 30-per-cent rise in 2023. After the long weekend, sales remained elevated above the annual average for the next two months — a crucial period for operators aiming to shore up their bottom lines before fall.
This year, nearly 72 per cent of surveyed Canadians anticipate spending more time in the country and at local restaurants, bars and pubs due to the current political climate, and almost half (47 per cent) plan to “make the most of summer in Canada.”
Square data analysts have been monitoring this effect on popular food and drink items sold during Canada Day weekend. Last year, mocktails, signature poutines, local craft beers and cocktail pitchers dominated orders over the extended holiday period, setting the tone for a lively 2025 patio season.
To help food-and-beverage sellers, Square has launched its portable point-of-sale (POS) device alongside a suite of industry-specific features and upgrades to empower Canadian businesses to move faster, deliver better experiences and grow.
Square Handheld is designed to stand up to water splashes and dust, plus offers an optional case, designed by Belkin, for added protection against accidental drops. For QSRs, the device can cut down on lines during a busy rush, and for FSRs, staff can take orders tableside or from across the bar.
The device offers a battery built to last all day and both Wi-Fi and offline payment capabilities. A camera with integrated barcode scanning capabilities also allows food-and-beverage businesses to take product pictures and quickly scan in retail offerings such as merch or bottles of wine.
New features include item splitting, DoorDash integration, scan to pay QR codes, multi-channel menu management and pre-authorized bar tabs.
“Square has gone big in restaurants, and it shows, with our product velocity accelerating to include more restaurant-specific tools to help Canadian restaurant and bar owners capture every order, all while freeing up staff to spend more time serving customers,” says Ming-Tai Huh, head of Food and Beverage at Square. “Square is the technology backbone for hundreds of thousands of businesses across Canada, from neighbourhood cafés to national chains – and with this latest release, we’re giving single unit and multi-unit restaurants the tools they need to operate efficiently and thrive in today’s dynamic marketplace.”
