Restaurants are Human too You Know…..

This goes out to all our discerning clientele. Yes you… the ‘That’s so expensive' lot. This is a call for you guys to take it a little easier on the restaurants you visit.

We’ve now had multiple new taxes implemented, multi fuel price increases which in turn heavily affects the price of gas etc. Restaurants have had to deal with a constant stream of price increases from suppliers since the start of 2018. Yes their prices must go up. Items that were once readily available such burgers are now becoming premium products with the average price for a good burger sitting just under R100.00. Now restaurateurs are stuck in a hard place. Suppliers are upping prices across the board sometimes weekly, but the public go up in arms should said restaurateur even consider upping his price. Its unfair. Keep in mind the restaurant feeds more then you, peoples lives are dependent on the restaurant making correct figures.

To put it in perspective a little, let’s dispel a common misconception. Restaurant owners do NOT get to decide what they sell their products for. Prices are governed by percentages. The general consensus on the food side of things is that your food cost must sit at 30% of takings. The other 70% is spread across labour, rents, utilities etc. So let’s put this in layman’s terms. The price of beef mince is currently around R76.00/kg. Should the patty on your burger weigh 0.15kg that means the patty alone costs R11.40. Now, pay attention kids, to turn that R11.40 into the required 30% food cost, it needs to be sold at R38.00. That ladies and gent is the selling price of just a patty, no salt, no bun, no sauce, tomato, onion Nada. Niks. Just the patty.

The latest price increases haven’t even hit the restaurants yet. Restaurants are running short on options and many have closed, more will soon. As the public that enjoys the service, please be more understanding. These guys are not ripping you off. They try to keep the prices down but sometimes its not in their hands.

Cheers for now.