The cost of living has been affecting families across Ireland for months, but it seems similar struggles are now being felt by restaurant owners nationwide.
The cost of supplying some of the most popular options on menus, from steaks to lamb and even chicken is becoming so expensive they may be gotten rid of altogether.
That’s according to Gina Murphy, a leading Dublin restaurateur who says the increases across the board have reached about 30% already.
The Hugo’s restaurant owner said over the last five or six weeks they have had to cope with “massive, massive price increases,” and that if they continue, certain items will have to be taken off the menu.
Everything from meat and butter to napkins and utility bills are seeing major hikes, leaving some scrambling to figure out ways of making up the losses.
Ms Murphy said that it is a widespread issue being met by restaurants all over the country as they struggle to keep costs down.
When speaking about a solution - in keeping the menu favourites available - she admitted that it is likely the increases will eventually have to be passed on to customers.
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She told Newstalk Breakfast: “We have had massive, massive price increases from all our suppliers over the last five or six weeks.
“Unfortunately, the war in Ukraine has really impacted everything and the cost of goods has just shot up.
“We have experienced price increases along the lines of about 30% on most of the goods we are taking in at the moment.
“A container of milk that I buy was €8.50 and it has now gone to €13.60 – this is all in the last five or six weeks. A box of unsalted butter I would buy used to be €51, we are now at €72.50
“Another container of chicken pieces we use for a particular dish would have been €32, we are now at €43.20. So, these are all massive increases.”
She explained that the hikes are affecting every restaurant’s stock costs and that many will be trying to “reconstruct” their menus because of this.
“We are ducking and diving to tell you the truth,” she said.
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“We’re trying to reconstruct our menus to try and keep the prices down, but when you have items like butter going up like that, I mean that’s a basic ingredient in so much of our cooking.
“You know, you would use butter in your sauces, in your baking, in your pastry section … but everything across the board is going up.
“Even say, paper napkins. I got an increase the other day of 14% on paper napkins. Just little things like that.
“My utility bills have gone through the roof.”
Speaking about the need to increase the VAT back to 13.5%, she said this is the only way they can make up for the increase in costs.
“We have had the most horrendous two years as everybody knows and we are all just trying to get back on our feet," she added.
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