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• Ireland most expensive for eating out in EU

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  Helena Deane    Group moderator

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  Ireland most expensive for eating out in EU

  (BizWorld)
  
  The number of Irish people dining out has slumped by 10pc while those who do are spending between 15pc and 20pc less as Ireland remains the most expensive place in Europe to eat out.
  
  The Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) said that customers are more aware of prices than ever.
  "Our industry survey show that consumers are still eating out but the diner is looking for value and general disposable spend has reduced considerably," Adrian Cummins, CEO of RAI said.
  
  "Restaurants are facing challenging times ahead with the cost of doing business increasing on a weekly basis. We are calling on the Government to seriously address the issues that affect the restaurant sector."
  
  The majority of restaurants in the RAI's latest survey say they expect the to see a bottom out of the decline in late 2009 with positive growth in early 2010.
  
  It found that 48pc of Restaurants see the current decline worse than what was expected 6 months ago.
  
  "Our results also show the cost of operating a restaurant is continuously increasing with Ireland now becoming the most expensive place to do business. We pay our staff one of the highest wage rates within the European hospitality sector. We are obliged to charge our customers rates of VAT and Excise Duty which are again at the top of the EU league. Our food input costs are 24pc higher than the EU average. The Irish restaurant sector cannot continue within such a regime," said Mr Cummins.
  
  • 30 Mar 2009, 2:33 pm
  Helena Deane wrote: > (BizWorld) > > The number of Irish people dining out has slumped by 10pc while those > who do are spending between 15pc and 20pc less as Ireland remains the > most expensive place in Europe to eat out. > > The Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI) said that customers are > more aware of prices than ever. > "Our industry survey show that consumers are still eating out but the > diner is looking for value and general disposable spend has reduced > considerably," Adrian Cummins, CEO of RAI said. > > "Restaurants are facing challenging times ahead with the cost of > doing business increasing on a weekly basis. We are calling on the > Government to seriously address the issues that affect the restaurant > sector." > > The majority of restaurants in the RAI's latest survey say they > expect the to see a bottom out of the decline in late 2009 with > positive growth in early 2010. > > It found that 48pc of Restaurants see the current decline worse than > what was expected 6 months ago. > > "Our results also show the cost of operating a restaurant is > continuously increasing with Ireland now becoming the most expensive > place to do business. We pay our staff one of the highest wage rates > within the European hospitality sector. We are obliged to charge our > customers rates of VAT and Excise Duty which are again at the top of > the EU league. Our food input costs are 24pc higher than the EU > average. The Irish restaurant sector cannot continue within such a > regime," said Mr Cummins.