Due to rising input prices, restaurateurs could increase their prices again

Given the 7% increase in restaurant sector inputs between January and February, Isidoro García Reyes, president of the National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (Canirac), said that they hope the situation will stabilize, otherwise there is the possibility of a second adjustment in menu prices.

García Reyes indicated that in 2024 the cost of inputs increased by up to 15%, which led to two adjustments in menu prices that year , while this year an increase of 10 to 12% was already applied in menu prices.

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However, the cost of inputs has already risen by 3% in January and by another 4% in February, which together represents an average increase of 7% and there are still 10 months of the year left.

There are products such as eggs that have seen their price increase in recent weeks, by 80% for the restaurant sector and up to 100% for local consumption.

He indicated that this product is widely used for breakfast, but is also the raw material for other meals and dinners.

In the case of meat and dairy products, prices have increased by 5 to 7%, fruits and vegetables by 6% (some prices have risen and others have fallen) and in the case of liquor, by 5% at the start of the year; when the adjustment to menu prices was made in December to apply this year.

"We hope that we are not pushed aside like in previous years, that we are planning ahead and that the entire economic situation in Mexico and abroad has not been overwhelming at times," he said.

He recalled that in previous years there were increases of 5 to 6%, while in recent years there have been increases of 12 to 15% annually. Therefore, the fact that there was a 7% increase in the cost of inputs between January and February indicates that half of the increase in inputs from last year has already been seen.

"We still have 10 months ahead of us, so we will have to be very alert in case we have to make another adjustment at some point in the first half of the year, which is definitely not good for us or our consumers," he said.

Finally, he added that it is a possibility, since it depends on the automotive industry and there is no stability in the first half of the year , especially due to the tariff issue that generates instability.