Cost of living takes away trade
RISING PRICES IMPACTING ON BUSINESSES
AS the cost of living crisis continues to bite, small businesses are seeing an impact.
Takeaways are one of the most popular ways Teessiders get their grub, with hundreds of options across the region and a large number of apps ready to deliver food to your door.
However, last month it was argued takeaway businesses were under ‘critical pressure’ and deliveries might not survive the cost of living crisis.
Teesside takeaways are now telling of how rising costs are affecting them and the sacrifices being made as a result.
In Stockton, manager of Sam’s Takeaway Mohammed Ulhaq said he has noticed a change over the last year.
He said: “Our sales are down around 30% at the moment.
“I think it’s because of the cost of living crisis - inflation, fuel and energy costs and increasing costs of products are leaving people with less money to spend.”
Mr Ulhaq added people are not ordering at the Dovecot Street takeaway as frequently as they used to.
He said: “We have the same prices as before but sales are down.”
On Linthorpe Road, joint businesses Peri Peri Original and Sweets Treats Dessert Lounge both deliver their chicken dishes and sweat treats to customers.
The manager discussed how the “tough” cost of living crisis is having an impact on business sales.
He said: “For small businesses,it’s getting very tough. With fuel, it costs a lot more for deliveries.
“We’ve had to put our delivery charge up, it used to be £1 and now it is £2.
“Who wants to put prices up for their customers? Especially when it is a delivery charge and they are already paying for their food.”
In terms of the Peri-Peri Original side of the business, the manager explained there has been a 30% to 40% increase in the cost of some of the produce he buys.
He added a “box of tomatoes had risen from £8 to £16” and “poultry has gone up” too.
He said: “Everyone is feeling it. Small businesses are seeing electric, gas, staff wages and so on go up.
“Sales have gone down for us too and I had to cut down by three to four employees across the business. It hurts me to let staff go.”
Middlesbrough venue Oodles
Noodles also said they had seen a decrease in sales just recently.
Youngs Fish and Chip Shop, a family-run business established in 1989, said price rises are only due to the soaring cost of products and food.
The manager said: “We’ve had to put our prices up because the likes of fish has shot through the roof.
“This impacts the customers, which is when they start to moan. I don’t think everyone realises the impact it has further down the line.”
However, the Seaton Carew chippy has not had to lay off any staff and has had no drop-off in sales.