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The 2025 Burgers & Fries Canadian Consumer Report
Burgers And Fries Rank Among The Top Food Options For Canadian Consumers And Continue To Gain Popularity. Burger And Fry Producers Are Introducing Brand New Flavours, Plant-Based Options, And A Variety Of Coating, Shapes And Sizes To Prolong Consumers Interest In This Iconic Pairing. What’s Trending? A recent study done by Technomic’s Burger Menu Trends for Q2 2024 indicated that the number one ingredient paired with burgers is fries. However, consumers are searching for more variety in the conventional world of burgers and fries. The traditional beef burger is being challenged by newer vegetarian and specialty burger alternatives hitting the market. One reason for this increasing demand for plant-based burgers is that they offer a healthier, guilt-free option for burger lovers. For those of us who have dietary restrictions, these offerings make our experience of buying classic meals like burgers and fries easier. By diversifying burger products, producers are consequently giving consumers more options, which ultimately works in favour and expands their clientele. Cardinal Meat’s BetterPlant™ is one of these vegetarian burger alternatives hitting the market and they deliver the cleanest ingredient deck on the market at the best value. As buyers seek to expand their palate, international flavours have become a popular choice for consumers. For example, Cardinal Roadhouse® Korean BBQ Burgers were inspired by this growing demand for international flavour profiles in both retail and foodservice. Top-Quality Meat For Signature Burgers Notably, The Top Burger Dishes Have “Specialty Burgers” Listed On Their Menu Which May Include Stuffed Or Smash Burgers. Cardinal Meats Is Pushing Boundaries With The Launch Of Their New Cardinal Roadhouse ® Smash™ Burger. In Honour Of The Centennial Celebration Of Cator-Family Tradition, Cardinal’s Roadhouse® Smash™ Burger Represents Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd. Which Turns 60 Next Year. “My Family Has Been In The Canadian Meat Industry For 100 Years, Leading With Quality And Innovation,” Says Brent Cator President And Owner Of Cardinal Meat Specialists Ltd.With Companies Like Mccain®, Cardinal’s Roadhouse®, And Betterplant™, The Massive Demand For Burgers And Fries In Canada Will Surely Continue To Dominate The Market.With a series of groundbreaking innovations, Cardinal Meats introduced the first stuffed burger, first burgers to include inclusions, and custom shaped burger capabilities. All while maintaining their high standards of food safety, Cardinal Meats was first to introduce Tender-Form® burgers and developed Natural Texture Forming™ (NTF) technology, “which creates a more natural texture and bite, retains more moisture and has a faster cooking time,” Cator concluded. Unlimited Options In addition to summer flavours for their burgers, consumers favour having a diverse spectrum of fry options including a variety of coatings, seasonings, shapes, and toppings for their fries. Recently, the popularity of battered fries has dominated the market in Canada. It’s clear that the relentless demand for fries by Canadians persists. According to Faye Schoenherr, senior brand manager at McCain® SureCrisp®, “While non-battered fries have seen a decline of 1.8%, the battered portfolio has grown by 1.0% — clearly signaling a shift in consumer preference. Battered fries are now accounting for nearly half of total fry volume. This trend underscores the importance of product innovation, particularly when it comes to format and coating.” she stated. Similarly, Schoenherr noted that 53% of restaurants in Canada contain fries as a menu option for consumers. Within these menus, a variety of fry options are offered, “From uniquely seasoned to fully loaded offerings, innovative fry options are helping elevate the guest experience and drive higher cheque averages, particularly in Canada’s competitive QSR and fast-casual segments.” Schoenherr added. For producers, coatings have become a large selling point in their fry products. The McCain® SureCrisp® portfolio offers 11 craveworthy skus that span a variety of cuts, shapes and textures. “From straight-cut and crinkle fries that deliver on comfort and familiarity to waffle and spiral fries that add visual appeal and hold up to sauces and toppings, the lineup is designed to satisfy a broad range of preferences.” Schoenherr stated, adding that coating technology is what truly differentiates SureCrisp® from other producers. In the words of Schoenherr, “Each fry is made with a proprietary batter that helps maintain crispness for up to 30 minutes — making them ideal for dine-in, takeout and delivery. McCain® SureCrisp® Max goes even further, with a heavy-battered coating that delivers maximum crunch and hold, perfect for high-volume delivery or indulgent loaded fry creations.” In order to provide consumers with topquality products, you must begin at the source with the best-tasting freshest ingredients available.Cardinal Meats Is Pushing Boundaries With The Launch Of Their New Cardinal Roadhouse ® Smash™ Burger.Exceptional Ingredients To achieve top-quality fries, start at the beginning with the right potatoes. McCain® sources high-quality potatoes from “a diverse network of Canadian growers—many of whom have partnered with the company for generations.” Schoenherr continues adding that the history McCain® with these growers “ensures a consistent supply of potatoes with ideal characteristics for fry production, including optimal size, colour and specific gravity.” In this way, taste, texture and appearance meet consumers expectations and keep them coming back for more. McCain also invests in sustainable farming to elevate both quality and environmental responsibility, “The company is embracing regenerative agriculture practices — such as crop rotation, cover cropping and reduced tillage — which support soil health, promote strong yields and improve the overall resilience of the potato crop. says Schoenherr adding that “McCain has committed to implementing regenerative practices across 100 per cent of its global potato acreage by 2030.” This commitment by McCain is designed to help the environment by improving farming sustainability, enhancing biodiversity, and continuing to deliver high-quality potato products to operators and consumers. Ultimately, Canadians are focused on the best tasting, freshest ingredients in addition to support local Canadian growers. With McCain® high-quality potatoes, Cardinal’s Roadhouse® Smash™ Burgers, Korean BBQ Burgers and BetterPlant™ veggie burgers, the massive demand for burgers and fries in Canada will surely continue to dominate the market. Cardinal Roadhouse® Burgers and BetterPlant™ veggie burgers are available at Costco and other fine retailers.
