TV chef Rosin fears the death of gastronomy: "It makes me cry"
TV chef and entrepreneur Frank Rosin feels great existential fears in the catering industry in view of the renewed rise in VAT on food. "It really makes me cry," Rosin told the German Press Agency at the weekend. For many of his colleagues and gastronomy friends, the mood barometer is currently close to zero, despite their passion for the profession.
The past few years have been the toughest ever for the restaurant industry, with extensive restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns. The industry is currently in a recovery phase, "where people are regaining courage and perhaps have certain goals in mind again", in which many restaurateurs are trying to restructure or rebuild their businesses.
"And then, at the same time, you get a stick in the legs and say no, no, that's not possible, because we ultimately have to use the money to finance other things here and there that are perhaps more important to us," he criticized. The increase in VAT on food in restaurants from 7 to 19 percent at the start of 2024 is an "absolute catastrophe" and a "breach of trust".
Rosin fears that restaurants will die out, which must be prevented. He points out that businesses are already confronted with significant increases in the large cost blocks of personnel and goods purchasing. If VAT were to rise sharply as well, this would no longer be affordable for many restaurateurs, as the public would still have to be able to afford the food.
"And I'm starting to feel like I'm on Rosin's Restaurants, where the car mechanic sometimes wants to become a restaurateur. And that's how I feel about politicians, that they are really completely out of touch with their profession and reality and have the opportunity to make decisions that they can't even make," he criticized. In his TV show "Rosin's Restaurants", the celebrity chef helps restaurateurs in need.
The rising VAT is a "milkmaid's bill", said Rosin: if restaurants were to die, tax revenue would be lost on the other side.
VAT on food in restaurants had been reduced from 19% to 7% during the pandemic - originally for a limited period until the end of 2022. In October 2022, the regulation was extended until the end of 2023 in light of an impending energy crisis. Drinks were again exempted from this. The traffic light coalition in the federal government has agreed that VAT on food in restaurants will rise again to 19% at the start of 2024.
The increase in taxes on food in the hospitality industry, specifically from 7% to 19%, is a concern for TV chef Frank Rosin and many of his colleagues. Despite their passion for the profession, they find it challenging to restructure and rebuild their businesses with these financial constraints.
Rosin argues that the increase in VAT on food is an "absolute catastrophe" and a "breach of trust," as it may not be affordable for many restaurateurs, potentially leading to the closure of numerous restaurants.
Source: www.dpa.com
