Where are we going?

By Steve Maresch

I feel it’s time we finally pulled together and work on the stuff that’s hurting our businesses.

When I read the blog by Mike Said on “what’s killing the restaurant industry”, I can’t resist taking a long hard look at our predicament. The economy has not made our lives easier and rapidly rising operating costs add to our woes.

Every week I receive an SMS from our meat supplier, notifying us of the primal price increases, delivering yet another blow only to be followed with “enjoy the rugby…go Bulle!!!”.

Sure we are all feeling the pinch but although we may feel down, we are far from “OUT”!

I’ve got to admit, we are forced to think out of the box and rework the business models we have been comfortable with for too long. Better controls, daily policing and the setting up of procurement groups.

We are finally letting our competition in to our comfort zone and sharing a table to discuss how we can help each other.

Independent operators with little buying power can now add their basket to ours and get the additional discounts only larger groups enjoyed. We are now sharing our “war stories”, (theft, fraud and customer altercations) only too common but never spoken about.

When one has to survive on 12 cents from each rand spent it had better be rewarding.

Setting up group sessions to debate our future and map the way forward is a good call and easy to get going but difficult to maintain.

The last RASA event I attended was a great networking opportunity, but I get really annoyed when the majority of guests/delegates are suppliers.

Are we too tied up in our own restaurants to network with others at industry events?

It’s easy to moan but are we committed to saving our businesses? Are we too busy to make money?

Pulling together is not an option.

Get involved and fast. We call ourselves “people’s people” but ironically don’t communicate.

This is not a call to action but more a demand that we get in touch with our fellow restaurateurs and set up discussion groups, purchase together and use RASA to its full extent.