Most people love checking out that trendy new restaurant in the city, but some might not realize what seems like an independent spot could actually be part of a much bigger group. CBC's Paula Duhatschek breaks down why more companies are moving toward a new model of restaurants.

Calgary

Calgary has seen a significant rise in restaurant groups, companies that own multiple restaurants with distinct concepts and menus, rather than traditional chains. The Concord Entertainment Group is among the largest, operating over a dozen venues in Calgary and expanding into Toronto. 

Industry reports indicate that independent restaurants are struggling post-pandemic, while groups benefit from shared infrastructure, buying power, and the ability to adapt to trends. Some restaurateurs note that while groups enjoy advantages, there is a risk of venues feeling less unique as they grow, though many customers may not realize when a restaurant is part of a larger group.

The rise of restaurant groups

Like any good menu there are tons of options these days when it comes to restaurants but you might be surprised to find out just how many of them have the same owner. We're not talking about restaurant chains here. You know the ones every location emblazoned with the same name, menu and decor. Instead we're talking about restaurant groups. So one company that owns multiple restaurants all with different vibes and food. Among the biggest in Calgary the Concord Entertainment Group. We're seeing some groups that are emerging here in Calgary with multiple stores, multiple restaurants, beautiful you know different concepts that they're you know that they're opening. So I suppose that maybe it is becoming a little bit more of a popular way to go. Concord owns more than a dozen restaurants across the city including Major Tom, Model Milk and Bridget Bar. It's seen so much success the group even expanded into the Toronto market. I don't know if customers or guests are surprised at how many restaurants that we do have. I think that perhaps when I say the number 25 it does you know maybe people don't realize that there's that many. So why are they becoming more trendy? A recent report from Restaurants Canada says the industry is still struggling post-pandemic. People are spending less on dining out so profit margins are razor-thin. It's very difficult for an independent restaurateur. If you read any of the data coming out of Restaurants Canada they will tell you that about half or just below half of all independent restaurants are struggling to turn a profit. But when you use larger restaurant groups they can have infrastructure behind them that will help them operate multiple restaurants. Another big reason, buying power. Groups can get better prices by ordering in big quantities. It can also help with staff retention or keeping up with the latest restaurant trends. And if you're running a group having multiple restaurants close to each other isn't a huge problem either. Maybe they've got a sushi place well now they can open a steakhouse right across the street. This allows them to really monopolize and dominate. One Calgary restaurateur sees pros and cons to the group model. Tony Milarese now owns five restaurants in the city. He considers his business not quite a restaurant group but getting close. They get to take advantage of so many benefits of being that large you know like too big to fail in a sense. But at a certain scale he says there runs a risk that everything starts to feel a little bit the same. I can't speak for it whether it tastes the same but I think you you kind of feel like robotic. Familiarity isn't necessarily a bad thing. If you know you like one restaurant you might be more likely to try another one that's part of the same group. But oftentimes if it's done right customers won't even notice that they're eating at a restaurant that's part of a bigger company. Paula Duhacek, CBC News, Calgary.

The contest, whose 70th edition is scheduled for Vienna in May, pits acts from dozens of nations against one another for the continent's musical crown.

Vienna

Four countries to boycott 2026 Eurovision after Israel can take part

Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla said U.S. President Donald Trump’s last-minute support for rival Nasry Asfura hurt his chances in the country’s closely fought election.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras' Nasralla: Trump's influence damaged my election chances

The ceremony took place even as there were reports of clashes between the Congolese army and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

Washington

Trump praises leaders of Rwanda and DR Congo as they sign a peace deal

A northern Virginia man was arrested and accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Scott MacFarlane has details.

FBI arrests suspect in 2021 D.C. pipe bomb case

A grand jury has rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has reaction.

Grand jury rejects DOJ's attempt to re-indict Letitia James

The New York Times has sued the U.S. Defence Department and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in an effort to force the Pentagon to abandon its restrictive new press policy. The Times alleges that the policy, rejected by at least 30 news organizations, violates its rights to free speech and due process.

New York

New York Times sues Pentagon, Hegseth over press restrictions

President Trump weighed in on Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has more.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Trump insists Putin wants to end Ukraine war after Witkoff's trip

Democrats have released never-before-seen images in the Jeffrey Epstein case. They were taken at his private island estate. It comes as the Trump administration faces a deadline to release the full Epstein case files in two weeks.

Newly released images and videos show Epstein's private island estate

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.

Caracas

Maduro accuses U.S. of pushing for regime change to get Venezuela’s oil

Australia starts enforcing a landmark ban requiring social media platforms to take down accounts belonging to under-16s

Canberra

Australia under-16s social media accounts to be taken down

European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of 2027, as the bloc seeks to choke off key funds feeding Moscow's war chest. Aimed at breaking a reliance the bloc has struggled to end despite the invasion of Ukraine, the accord marks a compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament, which wanted the ban to hit sooner.

Brussels

EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027

President Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife on Wednesday. The couple was indicted in 2024 on more than a dozen federal charges. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.

Trump pardons Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife

Sources say the Pentagon watchdog found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could have endangered American service members when he shared military information in a Signal group chat in March. Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

Watchdog found Hegseth jeopardized sensitive military information

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee Wednesday released never-before-seen images of the private island owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more details.

Never-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein's island released

The doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actor's overdose death has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor who sold Matthew Perry ketamine sentenced to 30 months in prison

Google subsidiary YouTube has criticized an Australian law banning social media accounts for under-16s, arguing the legislation set to start Dec 10 makes young users of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube less safe.

YouTube attacks Australia's underage social media ban

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Putin in the Kremlin on a revised Ukraine peace plan but left without a deal. Russia insists on territorial gains, army cuts, and blocking NATO membership, while Zelenskyy calls for long-term deterrence against future aggression.

U.S. envoys Kushner, Witkoff leave Kremlin without Ukraine deal

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a televised cabinet meeting, said “I don't want them in our country” about Somali immigrants, sparking outrage from politicians and migration experts. His remarks coincided with reports of planned federal raids targeting Minneapolis’ Somali community.

Trump targets Somali immigrants amid reports of Minneapolis raids

A Russian tanker carrying sunflower oil was hit by a drone off the Turkish coast, with no casualties. The attack is part of recent strikes on Russian-flagged vessels targeting Moscow’s oil sector, while Putin warns of possible retaliatory measures.

Russian tanker attacked off Turkey, Putin warns of retaliation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had watched the first U.S. strike in September on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in real time, but did not see survivors in the water or the second lethal strike that he described as being carried out in the "fog of war."

Hegseth says he didn't see survivors before second strike on boat

Republican comfortably beats Democratic challenger after polls showed candidates in a close race in US state.

Tennessee

Trump’s pick Van Epps wins special election in deep-red Tennessee

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to expand his crackdown on drug trafficking during a cabinet meeting, suggesting he’d order land strikes on Venezuela and attacks on any country transporting illegal drugs into the U.S.

Trump threatens to expand strikes beyond Venezuela

Ahead of a meeting to discuss the U.S. proposal for peace in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed European counter-proposals as 'unacceptable' and said his country was ready for war if Europe wants one.

Putin says Russia is 'ready' if Europe wants war

OpenAI has declared a "code red" as Google threatens to unseat the AI industry's early leader, according to the Wall Street Journal. Technology journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss.

California

OpenAI declares 'code red' as Google threatens its AI lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday (December 2) for talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two.

Putin meets Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner for Ukraine peace talks

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the deadly boat strikes in the region near Venezuela and Colombia have "only just begun." This comes as Republicans and Democrats in Congress question the legality of the military action.

Hegseth defends boat strikes near Venezuela during Cabinet meeting

President Vladimir Putin has hailed what his commanders told him was the full Russian capture of the city of Pokrovsk in eastern Ukraine as an important victory after a prolonged campaign, saying it would help Moscow fulfil its wider war aims.

Pokrovsk

Russia claims control of Pokrovsk

Major rescue and recovery efforts are underway across Southeast Asia after a series of severe storms battered the region displacing millions and killing more than 1,100 people.

Nuwara Eliya

Severe storms batter Southeast Asia, displacing millions

Honduras’ presidential race is too close to call, with Nasry Asfura and Salvador Nasralla nearly tied at just under 40% each as technical glitches delay official results.

Asfura, Nasralla in tight battle for Honduras presidency

Airbus must inspect hundreds of its A320 jets for potential quality flaws in the plane's body as a total of 628 aircraft contain panels that may be too thick or too thin due to a manufacturing issue at a supplier.

Breakdown