Prices for business meals in Russia’s largest cities keep climbing as costs for food, wages, rent, and logistics rise. A report by Kommersant, drawing on data from the analytics firm 2GIS, highlights this ongoing trend across major urban centers.
Data from 2GIS show that in April 2024 the average price of a standard business lunch in cities with populations exceeding one million reached 395 rubles. This marks a year over year rise of 7.09 percent and a substantial 38 percent higher than in 2021, underscoring a persistent inflationary pressure on everyday corporate meals.
Among the largest cities, the sharpest year over year increases were recorded in Novosibirsk where the average price climbed to 416 rubles, up 11.83 percent, and Rostov-on-Don where it rose to 382 rubles, up 11.37 percent. Perm also showed a notable gain, advancing by about 10 percent to 376 rubles, while Volgograd posted a 10.23 percent increase to 377 rubles. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, the pace of growth was more moderate, with prices rising to 483 rubles in Moscow and 399 rubles in St. Petersburg, up 5.92 percent and 9.02 percent respectively.
Experts attribute much of the price pressure in food products to broader inflation within the food market. For instance, the Tanuki Family network reports that in 2023 the prices of several common items surged sharply: chicken breast rose by 50 percent, squid by 40 percent, eggs by 30 percent, and Chinese eel by 28 percent, contributing to higher costs for restaurant operators and, in turn, higher menu prices for business lunches.
Operators across the industry are responding with a mix of strategies aimed at containing costs while maintaining service quality. These measures include revising recipes to use costlier components more efficiently, optimizing purchasing channels to secure better bulk prices, adjusting portion sizes to balance value with margins, and in some cases temporarily reducing the margins on premium offerings to keep demand stable.
Despite the mounting cost pressures, consumer demand for food and beverage services has remained relatively steady. Rosstat figures show the Russian restaurant market reached 747.4 billion rubles in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 14 percent year over year increase. Looking ahead, many analysts foresee a more pronounced price trajectory over the next two years as macroeconomic factors continue to influence costs from farm to fork and from supplier to plate.
Shoppers and corporate buyers alike are weighing costs more carefully, including inquiring about meal options for workers considering value, quality, and portion size. The ongoing cost dynamics suggest that businesses will continue to navigate a tight balance between offering convenient, affordable meals and protecting profitability as inflationary pressures persist across food chains and urban economies.
In the broader context, these trends illustrate how urban economies respond to inflation through adjustments in everyday expenditures. The evolving landscape of business meals signals a combination of price discipline, supplier negotiation, and menu innovation aimed at sustaining demand while managing rising costs in Russia’s major cities.