Without any restrictions, bars and restaurants They were able to commission all their work in 2023 generated 10% more cash despite dark clouds following a record summer; As a final challenge, the impact of possible impact smoking ban on the terrace.
While the restaurant industry waits for definitive data, An increase between 4% and 10% in your turnover, Also supported by price increase.
According to the latest CPI data; Prices in bars and restaurants increased by 5.6% compared to a year ago (November data), a figure that exceeds 3.2% overall but is below the 9% achieved by the basic food shopping basket.
A recently published report by the Spanish Hospitality Employers Association shows that food and beverage services have entered the industry. phase of moderating consumption After several years of improvement in all data due to pressure in the post-pandemic period.
Therefore, in general, 2023 ends as follows: year of “recovery”but he is holding his breath for the next step because forecasts point to a moderation in the results of an activity that seems to be “reaching its ceiling” and does not expect progress of more than 4% in 2024, according to the employers’ association.
A year in which labor and energy costs increased
For José Luis Yzuel, President of Spanish Hospitality, this is a “record” year This situation, where even data such as employment is positive, is one of the “fundamental problems” of the sector due to the difficulty of finding qualified personnel.
He took the opportunity to emphasize the effects of this situation in his statements to Efe.caused inflation in the shopping cart of bars and restaurantsWith an increase of up to “double digits” that they are trying not to “impress” consumers.
More business but more profitability?
And to this increase is added the increase in energy and salary costs, which together with the purchasing item represent 60% of operating expenses according to Yzuel. negative impact on profitability these.
In this sense, the improvement in results according to its annual data is due to higher sales volume, not increased margins.
Even so, and despite previous factors operating figure “further reduced”Yzuel’s overall rating for 2023 in the restaurant industry is “very good.”
According to a survey conducted by employers, the continued increase in food prices for businessmen has led to increased concerns about raw material costs.
In fact, at the beginning of 2023, this challenge energy costs saw it as the main problem that hoteliers felt they had to face, and it remained that way throughout the year.
In addition to raw material costs, increasing tax pressure and wage costs this year also worry them more.
Personnel problem continues: 100,000 professionals lost
The hospitality industry as a whole has followed an “upward” evolution in terms of employment across quarters this year. about 1.9 million in the main summer months.
Hiring in the restaurant industry increased more than 7% in both the second and third quarters, topping 1.35 million workers in both periods.
But for the president of the hospitality industry association, the problem in terms of employment is Difficulty for employers to find “qualified personnel”, and keeps the number of “required” staff at 100,000 workers.
Terraces are a new façade that will continue in 2024
In addition to the usual problems of the sector, where personnel and production costs come to the fore, the possibility of the Ministry of Health’s arrival in the last weeks of the year has been added. Prohibit smoking on the terraces of bars and restaurants.
The possible measure was revealed in the meeting of the Minister of Health with journalists: Monica GarciaHe stated that he marked among his priorities the “taking out of the drawer” of the anti-smoking plan, which envisages extending non-smoking areas to terraces, beaches or cars where minors and pregnant women are located.
Stating that it did not take long for reactions from the hotel industry to come, Yzuel said that he requested a meeting with the Health Director by letter to Efe and that this offer was described as “an important development”.The situation of businesses is getting worseBecause it affects institutions in a “radical” way.
Also presented by the Nofumadores organization Approximately 188,000 signatures before health Requiring that all accommodation terraces, whether covered or not, be smoke-free by law.
Whether the measure is implemented or not, the restaurant welcomes 2024 in terms of the development of prices, the search for a solution to the shortage of qualified personnel and the stability of several years leaving behind a “record” period. moderation in consumption.