"With the shocking price increases in electricity and gas bills, the final blow is given to restaurants". Federcuochi comments on "the disproportionate" increases that from 1 January weigh on restaurants and accommodation facilities, already heavily affected by the additional restrictions introduced during the holidays, which led to last minute cancellations for over 40%, effectively forcing many companies to definitive closure.
According to Coldiretti's estimates, in fact, in 2021 Italians' out-of-home consumption suffered a loss of about 20 billion compared to 2019 data. "If an increase of 55% for electricity and 41.8% for gas it is already a disaster for millions of Italian families - says Federcuochi - the same increase in the catering sector - which pays thousands of euros a month for the same bills - will have a devastating effect. Not to mention the impact on basic food items , first of all bread, whose prices have already risen ".
The Italian Federation of Chefs also recalls that thousands of restaurant businesses are based on family management and their failure would bring entire families to the pavement.
"The Government has implemented some valid solutions and social bonuses to tackle the problem, but it is not enough. It is time to look to the future, planning and investing in new technologies to meet the energy needs of our country".