Tag: Swiss Chalet

In a few short weeks last fall, there was a seismic shift in the Canadian foodservice landscape. With a couple of swift mergers, investments and acquisitions, Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. became a major player in the Canadian restaurant industry. Now nearly 1,000 restaurants across the country — including iconic brands such as Swiss Chalet, Harvey’s, Milestones, East Side Mario’s, Kelsey’s, Casey’s and The Keg — fall under Fairfax’s umbrella. But why would a financial holding company such as Fairfax — which owns numerous insurance businesses worldwide and has investments in such diverse companies as Blackberry Ltd., Torstar Corp (publisher of the Toronto Star newspaper), and retail chains William Ashley and Sporting Life — want to dive head-first into foodservice?

TORONTO — Competition is creating new challenges in today’s restaurant industry, as owners fight for their share of traffic and react to emerging segments, reported experts at the fifth-annual Canadian Restaurant Investment Summit (CRIS), held yesterday at the Eaton Chelsea hotel in Toronto.