The row is gaining weight at cafes
Following the increased cost of cocoa and coffee beans and rising labor costs, operators of the various cafes have experienced operating difficulties. Kaffitár has had to close cafes, and in other places price increases have been taken.
« World market prices for coffee have risen tremendously and it has begun to try on tolerance limits for customers and us, says Marta Ruth Pálsdóttir, Managing Director of Kaffitár’s cafés, in a conversation with mbl.is.
Coffee prices in the country’s four largest supermarkets have risen by 7.4% last year and examples are that individual types of coffee beans have risen by 33%. Cafés also work extensively with chocolate products, so price increases on cocoa beans have up to 200% impact on the business. In light of the increased raw material prices of the cafes and increased labor costs, the operation of various cafes has heavily gained weight. One of them is Kaffitár, but the company has had to close four cafes in just over two years. Two of the company’s cafes still operate.
« We have felt the huge rise in world market prices for coffee that has been in recent months, and it continues to rise.
Marta Ruth Pálsdóttir, Executive Director of Kaffitár/Kaffi Vest
Composite Image/Photo/Submitted/Photo/Submitted
She says the increases have begun to have a significant impact in the middle of last year. « Coffee is our main sales product, and we want to keep the quality unchanged.
More cafe owners have been dealing with increased operating costs. Ásgeir Sandholt, owner of Sandholt Bakery, says that price increases for coffee and chocolate have been high and that the lack of cocoa and coffee beans plays a major role there.
Pétur H. Marteinsson, co -owner of Kaffi Vest, says the place has not felt much for price increases for coffee, but wage increases are taking place. In addition to coffee, he says that the place the place offers refreshments and other drinks and that it facilitates the business a lot, especially during the summer.
Interviewees say that, outside the price increases that have been tried to control, the operation of the cafes will remain unchanged.
