Tripling of energy costs forces business to close deli

A WEST Sligo hot-food deli has been forced to close because of spiralling electricity costs which have tripled in a few months

It is believed this is the first local business forced to close in Sligo because of massive increases in energy costs.

Less than 24 hours before the closure was announced a Sligo County Councillor had warned that businesses’locally and nationally were facing “a perfect storm” of escalating costs.

On Tuesday evening Bernie and Brendan O’Brien of Bernie’s Convenience Store in Easkey told customers their hot deli would be closing permanently from this Sunday, September 11, largely because their energy costs had gone through the roof.

The closure has been forced on the business due to massive increases in the cost of electricity in addition to the constantly increasing cost of food products and ingredients which the deli sources and cooks for customers. Speaking to the Sligo Weekender, Bernie confirmed that since opening the deli last October she had taken on extra staff and staff had gained extra hours of work. The closure will mean a loss of hours and staff, she said.

“I am starting to wonder if they are trying to get rid of small businesses. I did my figures and when you factor in the huge increase in electricity, I know it is making a loss, so I have no choice but to close the deli,” she said.

In a post on their Facebook page Bernie explains the reason for the closure: “I am sorry to have to announce that the hot deli counter will be closing permanently this Sunday, September 11. Unfortunately, due to our electricity being tripled, (which really is the main reason for closure), the cost of food has and is continuing to rise, we are left with no option but to close it.”

However, the business itself will continue to trade and Bernie stressed when she spoke to the Sligo Weekender that they will continue to provide a huge and very popular range of cold deli, rolls, sandwiches, wraps, salads, and soups at the store.

The Facebook post states: “We will continue with the baking side and cold deli, so rolls, sandwiches, wraps, salads and soup will be available Monday to Friday.

“You can continue to ring in your order as before or just pop in.

“Thank you so much for all your support and your kind comments.

“Again apologies for this inconvenience but we haven’t taken this decision lightly. Bernie and Brendan.” Bernie told the Weekender she was left with no option to close the hot deli. She said she noted how Minister Eamonn Ryan had pledged support for householders, but she hadn’t heard anything about supports for small businesses.

The closure comes just one week after this newspaper reported a warning from another Sligo business owner, Finbar Filan, who said that many small and medium sized businesses in the county and country would be forced to close or cut back on what they do.