Kent’s food and drink industry at the brink of collapse

Kent’s food and beverage industry is facing a massive crisis from years of Covid, Brexit and the now the rising cost of living.

The ongoing increase in energy costs for gas, electricity, and petrol has put a squeeze on family budgets like never before. Less and less people are going out to splurge on a meal. 

According to the Office for National Statistics, the knock-on impact of goods and services has driven food costs up 16.8% during 2022. This is the biggest increase since 1977.

Soaring bills and decreasing customers are killing local restaurants like Coelho’s Spice and Skewers in Rochester. Co-owner and chef Hugo Rodrigues says they have reached a breaking point. ‘Obviously we don’t like to close down or go bankrupt or things like that…we are going to hold the end but as it’s going there’s an inkling that the cliff is getting nearer and nearer’ said the owner of the Portuguese brasserie.

However, it’s not just restaurants that are feeling the increased pressure but other local businesses too.

Rising costs mean stark choices for corner shops to save on electricity. Aarush Shalu stopped selling frozen food at his Food & Wine convenience store on Canterbury Street in Gillingham. 

He’s also had to close his shop an hour earlier and cut down on staff. He said that in the last month he’s had to let go two members of staff. This has put a greater pressure on the remaining seven employees to take on the increased workload.

According to him, ‘if the energy prices continue to rise’ he ‘can’t keep all of [his staff].’

However, by making a few small adjustments to your weekly shopping habits, the local community can play an important role in reversing the local businesses’ fortunes says the CEO of trade organisation supporting the food and drink industry.

Floortje Hoette the chief executive of Produced in Kent, states that besides the consumers who struggle to get their food on their table, in the context of the wider population if they shop locally, there is still room to try to help the industry as much as possible.

So can Kent help keep the lights on for its local businesses? The pressure is on.