the number of products to consume grew 5

Enforcement, effective July 1, of the reduced VAT rate of 5.5 in the service of dining table (alcohol is not concerned) will be well accompanied a decline in prices, or more precisely of many tariff reductions. Given the heterogeneity of the profession, its impact was announced however contrasted.

A J2, it is however common that "good plans" will not fail in the strings. These will go beyond the commitment of the "contract for the future" on April 29 between the employers and the Government, namely the impact full of the lowering of the VAT rate from 19.6 to 5.5 on at least 7 of the 10 dishes or products identified entry, dish, hot, dish of the day, dessert, entry-flat, menu dessert dish, menu child menu, juice of fruits or sodacoffee and mineral water, tea or infusion , or a real decrease of 11.8. For example, the specialist of the formula "mussels fries" Léon de Bruxelles respect all by reducing its prices on some 40 products. Similarly, Courtepaille decreases them up to 20 on 40 also, including a dozen benefit effect 11.8. The tex - mex El Rancho string reflected on the other hand the entire VAT of 21 dishes and products falling and reduced the invoice for 21 others. Last example, Buffalo Grill, the number one grilling, applies the passage from 19.6 to 5.5 on products 15, representing 30 of its turnover. As a result, the price of its Pony Express (dish dessert or drink) formula now is 7.60 euros or 7.90 euros, according to catchment areas. "The objective is to make Buffalo even more accessible," said Jean-François Sautereau, President of the Executive Board, before adding: "It is a commercial relaunch." It is imperative to take advantage of the decline in VAT to regain volumes.

Winback lever

The President of El Rancho, Laurent Caraux, does not say anything stating: "It begins to have very competitive prices of appeal." It moves at the level of fast food. "In fact, the price of its Mexico Express (1 dish 1 coffee) fell to 8.70 EUR.

Long awaited, the rate of 5.5, already applied to the sale to go, has become a real lever of reconquest for operators who have not escaped the crisis. El Rancho thus recorded a downturn, on a comparable basis and accumulated since the beginning of the year, from 5 in net sales and 6 in number of cutlery. Despite its "low cost" positioning, Buffalo Grill is part of the same trend: 4 in volume of business and 6 in attendance (comparable basis and cumulated at the end of May). In this context, the President of the Executive Board of Léon in Brussels, Michel Morin, called "performance" the stability of its activity.

More widely and the NDP Crest panel, attendance declined by 4.8 in restoring theme on the five first months of the year, the decline was 5.6 for the "restoration at table" (bars, breweries, restaurants). In overall, declining is 1.8 for the whole of commercial restoration, because of the vitality of fast food. Only good news: the "average plateau", i.e. the number of products to consume, grew ( 5.3 for the restoration to theme).

Wage and investment

The offensive strings but also the mobilization of the major actors in breweries (Group Flo, the brothers white) pourraient therefore result in further losses of market share of independents, including the movement remains unclear. A recent study by Food Service Vision, in partnership with the magazine "The Chief", indicates that the decline in prices is the last priority of restaurants and cafés after the improvement of working conditions and investment, including , 46 of them in making their number one concern.

Christine Pujol, President of the main employers organisation, the Umih, remains "confident": "I believe that we can lift reluctant," she said, while pointing to another "challenge": the social. While the wage bargaining is at a standstill, the impetus could there also be strings. Pending an agreement of branch, Buffalo Grill has already decided to increase July 1, 4.5 turnover which base is calculated compensation of servers for more that counter the impact of the reduction in VAT. Will enhance their side, Léon in Brussels and El Rancho both of 3 per cent their wage grid.