ANP
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NOS News•today, 20:49
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Aybala Carlak
editor economics
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Aybala Carlak
editor economics
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Since the beginning of this year, the number of catering businesses for sale has increased by at least a quarter compared to the past two corona years. Most of the catering bosses stop because of financial problems.
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Brokers estimate that since January they have 25 to 30 percent more catering companies on offer. Sector economist Gerarda Westerhuis of ABN Amro confirms the increase.
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Make balance
According to trade association Koninklijke Horeca Nederland, there are several reasons for the increase. “Consider the uncertainty about the coming winter and the staff shortage,” said a spokesperson. “Many entrepreneurs also struggle with corona debts, rising prices and higher personnel costs. Entrepreneurs take stock and see if they want to continue.”
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Over the past two years, weaker catering companies have also been able to survive due to the government’s corona support measures. But the corona support has stopped and companies will have to repay the tax debts they incurred during corona from October. That is the moment of truth for a number of things. “The corona support has artificially kept a lot of parties alive,” says Gertjan Slob, Research Director of Locatus. “They’re falling over now.”
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No buffer
Brokers hear different stories from quitting catering bosses. Entrepreneur Miranda Ouwekerk has run out of buffer due to the corona crisis. She no longer has confidence that her restaurant in Oud-Beijerland will run smoothly in the near future.
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“There are not enough good chefs to be found, and the chefs that are there have a high hourly rate,” says Ouwekerk. “In addition, purchasing and energy prices have risen. You can’t last that long.”
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Balance
Incidentally, it is not the case in all regions and segments that more catering owners are putting their business up for sale. “Demand and supply remain fairly the same for us,” says catering broker Lukas Arends, who is active in the Gooi and in Amsterdam. Moreover, there are plenty of catering people who do have confidence in the future, because there have also been slightly more buyers since the beginning of this year.
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“On the one hand, you see that companies that were already about to collapse before corona are now doing so,” says Slob van Locatus. “On the other hand, the parties that are doing well and want to expand are now doing the same. And that keeps each other in balance.”
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“I also see that small companies are selling faster, while large players and chains such as Loetje or Happy Italy can continue to grow,” confirms national broker Michael Klaassen. The optimists in the catering industry are now mainly delivery and takeout companies, according to real estate association NVM.
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Earlier, the Chamber of Commerce established that in the catering industry most of the starting entrepreneurs are to be found. The growth is mainly in so-called event catering, where entrepreneurs are less often tied to a building.
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