'You're a victim of your own success': Restaurants explain slow sales last year by bigger growth in past

Restaurants Canada is expecting sales growth for P.E.I. restaurants and bars in 2017 to continue to be moderate.

• Restaurant and bar sales flat despite record tourism year

Annual sales were up just 1.9 per cent in 2016, compared to a 6.3 per cent increase nationally.

Luc Erjavec, Atlantic Canada vice-president Restaurants Canada, said P.E.I. saw strong growth in 2015, and it is not too surprising that didn't continue the following year.

"It's a bit of you're a victim of your own success," said Erjavec.

"It's still a really positive story, but it just doesn't show as to be such a strong growth because you had such a strong year the previous year."

P.E.I. sales were up 7.8 per cent in 2015.

Erjavec expects bars and restaurant will see growth around two per cent again in 2017.

National growth last year was driven mainly by large increases in sales in Ontario and B.C., said Erjavec.

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