Just last year Britain voted for Brexit leaving the hospitality trade in turmoil over what that would mean for staffing and food prices.
Last week it was revealed that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was struggling with the rise in food costs and is now employing his own team to help negotiate cheaper rates across his restaurant empire.
The Staff Canteen took to social media to find out how you feel about facing an uncertain future and how you plan to protect your business post-Brexit.
Last week the Guardian reported that Gordon Ramsay, whose eponymous restaurant has three stars in the Michelin Guide UK, has been forced to hire a team of professionals to help negotiate food prices which have massively increased since Britain decided to leave the EU last year.
Something most of our followers have noticed too since the news shook the nation back in June 2016, that we could potentially be going it alone, a result most of us were not expecting.
On Facebook, Michael Andrew O’Neil said: “As soon as Brexit was announced our wine suppliers tried putting prices up…nothing abnormal on food costs yet but we are gearing up for the hikes they will come.”
Jake Potter has also felt the pinch saying: “Yeah, because it’s all about food…wines, spirits, beers are all creeping up. ‘Buy local’ just doesn’t work in all environments.”
‘Buying local’ was another popular suggestion amongst our Facebook followers. With the pound dropping lower and lower since the vote, the option to source locally appears to be a general reaction amongst the tight-knit community of chefs.
Adam Lyons said: “Buy local and plan your menus around the UK seasons and avoid expensive imported foods as they come at a premium.”
Jason Anthony Lord said: “If everyone has to buy British that in itself will drive the price down.”
But Sarah Gadd raised a good point, do we actually have enough home grown ingredients to cater to the whole of the UK market?
She said: “Is there enough grown in the UK? With rising food bills it is inevitable that less people will eat out as they tighten their belts.”
Only time can tell what will happen as the cost of imports continues to soar and the pound continues to weaken.
How has Brexit affected your business? Let us know by leaving your comments.
By Michael Parker
@canteenparker
