After Christmas, the pandemic will have got the better of another winter tradition in the greater Quebec City area: the Ashton restaurant chain has announced the cancellation of its popular Weather Discount, a custom dating back more than 25 years.
Ashton management announced the news in a press release Monday morning. Fearing that they would not be able to enforce health rules during periods of high traffic linked to the discount, the chain preferred to ignore its 2021 edition.
“Respect for sanitary rules and the health of customers is important to us. We therefore think that it would be irresponsible, in the current context, to hold a promotion that creates so much traffic “, underlines the communications and marketing manager of Ashton restaurants, Mylène Beaulieu, assuring that the decision will have been” heartbreaking And that other discounts will take over.
“We sincerely hope our customers will understand. We will definitely do what it takes to thank them for their support. ”
Staff shortage
The lack of manpower also played a part in this difficult decision. The preventive withdrawal of certain employees who must be tested complicates the management of schedules and no longer made it possible to get through the cold days that used to arouse the desire for poutine in Quebecers.
“Since the start of the pandemic, we have been juggling schedules more than ever. During the weather discount period, we really cannot afford to be short of staff, ”explains the channel’s management, recalling that the lack of staff had already impacted the tradition in recent years.
«In 2018 and 2019, […] the promotion only took place the first two weeks of January, rather than the entire month as in previous years. “
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