“The inevitable happens. In the more or less long term, we will have no other choice but to pass on the price increases that we are experiencing to consumers”, deplores Rudy Carnis, the president of the Union of trades in the industry of the hotels (Umih) in Eure-et-Loir.
To make this announcement, he was surrounded, this Tuesday, March 15, 2022, by several representatives of the profession: Chantal Maudhuit, honorary president of Umih and manager of the restaurant Aux Vieux Garçons; Pascal Gauthier, vice-president of Umih and shareholder of the restaurant Aux Vieux Garçons; Gil Eleaume, owner of the hotel-restaurant L’Écume; Laurent Reverre, owner of the bar-brasserie Le Reverdy; and Jérôme Corbinais, the new manager of the Métro de Chartres store.
“Even if the worst is yet to come, raw materials have already seriously increased”
“Even if the worst is yet to come, the raw materials have already seriously increased”, details Rudy Carnis, relying, for example, on the price of a 25-litre container of frying oil: “It cost 28.50 € in November 2020, €64 Monday morning”. A product today subject to quotas because 70% of it comes from cereals produced in Ukraine. “There is about a month of stock left, after that we don’t know,” says Jérôme Corbinais. “Professionals will have to find alternatives because a restaurant that doesn’t offer fries is complicated…”.
“We will have to start repaying state-guaranteed loans, the famous PGEs, from April 1”
Another increase that professionals are bearing the brunt of is that of the price of energy, whether for heating, electricity, gas or fuel. “The price of water has also increased in Chartres,” adds Rudy Carnis. “And from April 1, we must apply an average salary increase of 16% to our staff.” Pascal Gauthier adds: “Not to mention that we will have to start repaying the loans guaranteed by the State, the famous PGE, from April 1”.
Eure-et-Loir has only 19 master restaurateurs
To illustrate the rises in the price of raw materials that they themselves are experiencing, professionals cite, among other things, the price of an egg (7 cents a month ago, 11 cents today), butter (4 70 € per kg a month ago, 6.50 € today), beef rib steaks (18 € per kg a month ago, 25 € today) or even coffee (17.90 € in November 2021, €21.90 today).
“We have been postponing this moment for weeks but we will not be able to hold on forever. If we want to maintain an equivalent quality and quantity, we will have to increase our prices. Not all at the same time, and probably not all in the same way, but it’s inevitable. »
Rudy Carnis (President of Umih 28)
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According to these professionals, a menu currently billed at 15 € should soon rise to 17, 18 or even 19 €. “And the worst is yet to come,” says Jérôme Corbinais, referring to a scarcity of resources that is likely to increase. According to him “tomorrow, a menu starter main course dessert at less than 20 €, it will no longer be possible”.
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