Monterrey, NL. The National Chamber of the Restaurant and Seasoned Food Industry (canirac), from New Lion commented that due to the announcement of the Mandatory use of face mask in closed places On December 12, due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 in the entity, clients who had already made reservations for the entire month of December canceled or postponed their events for next year, which could generate a 15% decrease. in income.
Daniel García Rosales, president of the canirac in New Lioncommented to the press: “People were already used to not using face masks, there is discomfort, diners are leaving us, we have considered that it will be more than 15%, because fear is generated, we discussed it with the Ministry of Health (state), that in Mexico City there is a higher rate of infections and the same thing did not happen as in the state.
He added that it would be a mistake to lock everyone up again as happened in the first waves of Covid-19due to the fact that the food and beverage sector was the most affected due to capacity restrictions.
“That the mistake of locking up everyone is not made again, we know that it is an instruction, something greater does not have an impact, what happens is fear (of the population), the message must be taken care of, I accept you with face masks, the staff use gel and face masks, we call on the public to support businesses,” he emphasized.
He considered that since a percentage of between 30 and 40% of cancellations have been made for the month of December, now the growth expectations for 2022 will be adjusted between 10 and 15% compared to last year.
Another obstacle for the industry has been the inflation, because despite the fact that they had had full restaurants, since a year ago meat increased between 100% and 150%. For example, the lack of corn imported from Ukraine caused an increase in chicken and tortillas, that is, their profit margin is low.
The only strategy that exists at the moment is that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador selected 24 basic basket products that do not increase, however, these prices are above the costs of 2019.
For this reason, they asked the state economy authorities to support the 21,000 restaurants that are currently open so that businesses are not so affected by inflation.
García Rosales pointed out that currently around 700,000 direct and indirect jobs have been generated, however, new restaurants are opening and they have a personnel deficit.
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