Swiss Chalet: always so good for so little
Swiss Chalet is a Canadian chain of family dining restaurants, founded in 1954 in Toronto. Swiss Chalet currently has 202 locations in Canada.
In 1954, the first Swiss Chalet restaurant was opened at 234 Bloor Street West in Toronto, by Maurice Mauran of Montreal, in partnership with another businessman. It operated for 52 years and in 2006 the store closed and was demolished to make room for a condominium development.
Maurice Mauran was also the creator of Harvey’s Hamburgers which first opened in Toronto in 1959. Swiss Chalet and Harvey’s, both holdings of Recipe Unlimited, share many locations.
How did the restaurant get its name?
The first Swiss Chalet was called Chalet Bar-B-Q and featured chicken roasted on a spit over an open flame. The restaurant’s founder was inspired by a Swiss method of roasting chicken on a spit over an open fire.
In 2008, Air Canadaa added Swiss Chalet food products to its buy-on-board menu.
The company began a partnership with the Scene loyalty program in February 2015. That means that every time you dine at Swiss Chalet and show your Scene card, you earn points towards your next Cineplex Cinemas movie.
In 2016, the company’s parent, Cara Operations, acquired St. Hubert, a Quebec-based chain of rotisserie chicken restaurants, for CAD$537 million.
In addition to its spit fired chicken, the restaurant also offers ribs, rotisserie beef, burgers, poutine and more.
Swiss Chalet franchises typically include a dining room, take-out counter and delivery. Some locations feature drive-thru windows, while others in certain urban areas provide only take-out counters. For even more convenience, customers can also order online.
As an industry leader, Swiss Chalet supports the humane treatment of animals and works only with producers and suppliers that respect animal welfare standards. Although Recipe Unlimited Corporation is not directly involved in the farming, slaughtering or transporting of animals, it endeavours to achieve the Five Freedoms of animal welfare that was adopted by the Farm Animal Welfare Council.
Freedom from Hunger and Thirst by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.
Freedom from Discomfort by providing an appropriate environment, including shelter and a comfortable resting area.
Freedom from Pain, Injury or Disease by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.
Freedom from Fear and Distress by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.
To achieve these goals, the Corporation works closely with organizations that inform, develop and manage broiler chicken welfare standards of operation across Canada, including the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC).
Recipe Unlimited Corporation purchases from approximately 1,300 chicken farmers throughout Canada, roughly half of the industry and looks to its suppliers to abide by government and industry guidelines:. As such, we look to our suppliers to ensure they abide by government and industry guidelines outlined below.
- Hormone and Steroid Free
Broiler chickens raised in Canada live in an open barn environment without the use of hormones or steroids. - Regulated System
Canadian chicken farmers are mandated to follow the standards for broiler chicken welfare strictly defined in Chicken Farmers of Canada’s (CFC) Animal Care Program. - Annual Independent Third Party Audit
Canadian chicken farmers are audited annually and held to the same high standard to support the effective and consistent implementation of the Animal Care Program. - Stocking Density
The stocking density standard for chickens in Canada, based on the national Code for poultry welfare, is among the lowest in the world. - Cleanliness and Air Quality
Litter – CFC’s mandatory On-Farm Food Safety Assurance Program requires that chicken barns are fully cleaned after each flock and fresh bedding is placed into the barns.
Air Quality – The national Code for poultry welfare requires that corrective action be taken if ammonia levels reach between 20-25 ppm. - Lighting
Lighting is an important management tool that farmers utilize to ensure optimum health and welfare. Birds need four-to-six hours ofdarkness for melatonin production, skin regeneration, and sleep. - Bird Catching
Recipe requires suppliers to ensure the safe handling of live birds. All of our suppliers’ catching crews must sign an employee code of conduct and receive training in the safe handling of birds.
Recipe Unlimited Corporation does not tolerate animal cruelty within their supply chain and will continuously correct or take action against any partners or suppliers who do not follow the letter or spirit of their commonly held rules.
Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing