Skyrocketing prices of vegetables have forced hotels and restaurants to hike rates by 15 per cent
Skyrocketing prices of vegetables have forced hotels and restaurants to hike rates by 15 per cent
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With the prices of vegetables hitting the roof, restaurants are left with little choice but to increase the rates of dishes. So the next time you are out dining, it might pinch your pocket slightly more.
According to restaurant owners across the city, there will be an increase of 10 to 15 per cent in the price of dishes, thanks to the increasing rates of onion, garlic and other vegetables. According to the buzz in the market, onion prices might soar from the current Rs 50 per kg to Rs 70 per kg by early next week.u00a0
Though Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) refused to comment on the rising prices, wholesalers maintained that there are difficult times ahead.
Availability matters
An Assistant Food Distribution Officer from APMC, requesting anonymity, said, "Currently we haven't received any news on the revised prices of onion or garlic as it depends on the availability of vegetables."
Meanwhile, wholesalers in the city maintain that they have already started paying Rs 750 for every 10 kg this week and garlic still remains at Rs 280 per kg. Sachin Jadhav, proprietor of wholesale agency which supplies to restaurants, said, "Last Friday, we paid Rs 750 for 10 kg of onions from Nagpur. This means that we will have to sell these onions between Rs 65 and Rs 70. Since the crops were destroyed because of unseasonal rain, there is a scarcity."
Vishwas Wakadkar, a wholesaler from Market Yard, said that it was just a matter of five to seven days that the increased rates will be effective.
Hike after new year
Hotel and restaurant owners say that the revised rates will apply only after Christmas and New Year.
Ganesh Shetty, president, Pune Restaurant and Hoteliers Association, said, "In an informal discussion amongst us we have decided to increase rates by about 10 to 15 per cent. Not only areu00a0 the rates of vegetables increasing but the minimum wages of our employees have also increased from Rs 3,600 to Rs 5,200
in the past six months. We can no longer affordu00a0 the old prices."
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Sachin Joshi, owner of a world cuisine restaurant, said, "We have a stock of vegetables especially onion and garlic till second week of January. After that we will have to purchase them as per revised rates. We will be left with no option but to hike the rates of the dishes by almost Rs 20."u00a0u00a0
The price hike has not spared even the restaurants that have annual contracts with vegetable suppliers, where the latter sell products at a pre-decided price.
According to Sanjay Singh, F&B Manager, Citrus, "We will then negotiate on the prices mentioned in the contracts because we do not want our suppliers to face losses."
A spokesperson from a popular Indian and Italian restaurant from Kalyani mentioned that they are currently brainstorming about the rates that need to be increased.
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