bars and restaurants on alert for cost increase this year. this Difficulties in reflecting the increase in costs to prices raw materials, energy and wages put the so-called horeca sector (hotels, bars and restaurants) in a difficult position. The 19th Horeca Congress of Aecoc, celebrated in Madrid this Tuesday, was the chosen framework for confession and lamentation. More than 450 ‘horeca professionals’ came together to understand that the future is complex and the competition will be tough. In his keynote speech, Jordi Gallés, chairman of the Aecoc horeca committee and Europastry group, said the industry “large increase in costs and loss of consumer’s current purchasing power” after a positive summer. A brief x-ray of the uncertainty that is stabbing businesses’ accounts, resulting from high electricity prices, as well as other invisible bills for customers.
The problem is that there are difficulties in adapting prices to past and future cost increases. Gallés reminded that while the overall CPI was 10.5% in August, the restoration remained four points below. The solution to tax aid is at the mouth of all industries, and Horeca is no exception. Even if the VAT reduction is temporary, it is a request from the Horeca channel and distribution channel. Producers in the food sector are also calling for VAT reductions. The consensus on this issue is striking. Limiting basket prices has long since been forgotten, except as a demand or communication strategy.
Recovery
Sponsored by the organization that brought producers and distributors together, the meeting served to affirm the health of the Spanish horeca industry after fireworks and anchorage, good tourist numbers and high domestic consumption rates. The recovery of restoration after the health crisis should be the subject of analysis and study. In the last 12 months, the hotel industry has provided more than 182,000 jobs and was one of the few industries to increase employment in August. In short, it claims to have more flexibility than expected and an economical engine.
Sustainability and digitalization continue to be on the agenda of businessmen in the sector, but in a situation similar to the current situation, the targets may be affected and in some cases slowed down. Despite these doubts, the Aecoc Horeca Congress also served to strengthen confidence. Some benchmarking companies say sales are still strong and the specter of a recession is still common and unexpected.
Francesc Cosano, managing director of Coca Cola Europacific Partners Iberia, said the company “exceeded expectations” this year, largely thanks to the return of 90% of foreign visitors compared to 2019. The firm hopes to make this year almost before the pandemic. Billing levels. Towards the end of the year, the company’s executive predicted “good consumer behavior despite inflation, not knowing what to expect next year”.
Alberto Rodríguez-Toquero, managing director of Mahou San Miguel, said: “We can expect an unrealized fall in consumption in September and the prospects for the Christmas campaign are good because last year the restoration was stopped by Omicron and we do not expect anything similar this year”.
Óscar Vela, CEO of Areas, analyzed the restoration situation at highways and train stations, which are already at business levels above the pandemic, while airports are “the markets that are suffering the most and we look forward to it in full. Improvement in traffic by 2024.”