For food service operators working in the seniors’ living market, the challenges are many. With a large emphasis on cost control, a shortage of skilled labour available to them and the continuous demands of providing memorable mealtime experiences for their clients, they are looking to their food service distributor not only for the delivery of product but for added-value services and solutions to help them do business better.
The seniors’ living market segment is growing. Over the next three decades, the number of seniors in Canada is projected to increase from 4.2 million to 9.8 million between 2005 and 2036, and the seniors’ share of the population is expected to almost double, increasing from 13.2 per cent to 24.5 per cent.
This aging population will have huge implications for the type and quantity of food demanded as well as where it will be consumed. We are also seeing increased government spending on health care for seniors age 65 and older, with the largest increase seen in the 80+ age group. In 2009, per person spending for the 80+ age group reached more than three times the amount spent on those who were 65 years old.
According to Clayton Research, a real estate economics consulting firm in Toronto, the mature homebuyers—the retired or semi-retired—will drive three-quarters of the housing growth in Canada over the next decade. For developers of retirement communities, the challenge is to figure out what this generation of retirees wants in a home and in a community. We know they expect nothing but the best: gourmet kitchens, home theatres, recreation centres, golf courses and indoor pools. They are not impulsive buyers, and they take up to two years to decide on the retirement residence of their choice.
As our workforce ages, Canada will continue to see a shortage in skilled labour, primarily in the health-care field. At the same time, our aging population will need more care, creating a significant imbalance in the supply-and-demand ratio for health-care services.
Food service departments servicing the seniors’ living market are faced with even more challenges. Their client base is becoming more educated and well travelled compared to the clients they served a decade ago. This has a huge impact on the types of foods and meals offered and the dining service expected. Not only are their clients more demanding, but so are their families. In addition to this, many provinces are seeing new legislation that is pushing health-care food services to take the mealtime experience to the next level: the Red Seal level. Governing bodies are now legislating that food service departments must have Red Seal-certified chefs prepare their meals.
Now more than ever, food service operators working in the seniors’ living market are turning to their distribution partner for solutions and added-value services. They are looking for new ideas and solutions to help them meet the ever-changing needs and demands of their clients in the face of limited resources and labour.
Today`s food service distributors provide not only the ingredients needed to prepare meals, but also culinary expertise, advances in product innovation, food service supplies, equipment and programs.
They also provide operators with a broad range of product variety—choices range from produce, dairy, nutritional supplements, and texture-modified and ethnic dishes such as halal, vegetarian, and kosher. Through one-stop shopping, food service operators can enjoy the efficiencies of streamlined purchasing and procurement of product.
For retirement residences, today`s distributors are also their link to the manufacturing community. Many distributors are able to provide timely and accurate information on the products they carry, such as nutritional analyses, new product development, product reformulation and ingredient statements.
In recent years, food safety and product traceability has become a key area of concern for many food service operators working in seniors` living. Leading food service distributors pride themselves on making sure that their products are produced in accordance with the highest industry standards, helping to ensure that optimum quality and safety are maintained. They also make substantial investments in food safety and traceability, food-quality innovations and quality assurance.
Many food service distributors recognize that their actions have a great impact across the food chain. Many have adopted sustainable business practices such as reducing energy consumption and their impact on the land and environment, and working with programs that support local farmers. It is through these business practices that food distributors are able to influence not only their own activities and employees but also those of the supplier community.
Food service distributors often choose to employ health-care professionals whose expertise is in the area of seniors’ living. These associates will work with their customers in a consultative role to determine which products, services, resources and software solutions best meet their needs.
A good food service distributor recognizes that its customers working in the seniors’ living market in Canada have limited resources and time available to them. Therefore, they continue to re-engineer, reinvent and redesign their businesses in order to make it easier for retirement residences to manage the complex changes that are taking place in the seniors’ living sector in Canada.
Distributor checklist
When looking to partner with a food service distributor, retirement residences should consider the following:
- Scope of products – Food service distributors that are focused on the seniors’ living market are able to offer a wide range of suitable products, such as centre-of-the-plate, produce, dairy, nutritional supplements, texture-modified items, supplies, equipment and so much more.
- Dedicated team of health-care professionals – Ask yourself, does your food service distributor have knowledgeable and trained sales associates who are well versed in the needs and demands of seniors’ living?
- Product information – Leading food service distributors are able to provide product information such as nutritional analysis, ingredient statements, product innovation, product reformulation, etc.
- Food safety – Good food service distributors have standardized policies and procedures for ensuring that their products are produced in accordance with the highest industry standards, follow HACCP guidelines, and have accurate and efficient processes for product traceability.
- Sustainability and buying local – Leading food service distributors have sustainable best practices, support agricultural practices that protect the land and environment, and get involved in programs that support local farmers.
- Added-value resources – Make sure your distributor offers added-value services and resources including software, educational events, training opportunities, business reviews, newsletters, dedicated websites, etc.
About Tina Haslip
