2023-08-14 19:03:57
Consumers seem to be adopting new habits to continue visiting restaurants without becoming too poor, namely that of having lunch there instead of having dinner there.
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With a 6 to 10% increase in restaurant bills in nearly half of establishments, can Quebecers still afford to pay for a visit to the dining rooms?
The Association Restauration Québec (ARQ) has noticed a 2% drop in traffic compared to last year’s figures at the same date, a decrease attributed to the prices of plates which are increasing.
Having fewer customers in summer, this season which often allows the restaurateur to fill the coffers for the harsher winter months, is not a good indicator according to the ARQ, which specifies that restaurateurs will not be able to lower their prices by autumn.
“Our costs are rising on all sides,” says Martin Vézina, ARQ representative, who blames food inflation and the labor shortage.
To always be able to afford this outing, “customers have decided to migrate to lunch restaurants because it really costs less,” notes François Roy, owner of the Matinée restaurant.
“What we are seeing is that more and more families and groups are going to visit my establishment,” says Mr. Roy.
The price of the plates for a dinner, to which is sometimes added the purchase of a bottle of wine, an appetizer and/or a dessert, will quickly inflate the bill compared to that of a lunch.
François Roy explains that restaurateurs “have their hands tied” and also lays the blame on “the increase in raw material costs and the increase in wages”.
“Inflation is starting to be felt and I sincerely believe that the train has left and that we will see more and more restaurant closures,” he explains.
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