Whether the catering price increase should be determined by the market
He Yong
According to reports, a catering brand has recently resumed dine-in, the price of dishes has increased and the amount of dishes has decreased, causing widespread concern in the society.
After the catering brand resumes work, the price of the dishes will increase, and the amount of dishes will decrease, so consumers will naturally not be happy. However, from a market economy and legal point of view, after the resumption of food and beverage brands' price increase, there are indeed factors that increase the cost of labor, procurement, and disinfection. As long as the price increase is within a reasonable range, it is normal business behavior and legitimate business choice . After all, it is up to consumers to choose whether they are still attractive after the price increase, and it is impossible for restaurant brands to ignore these factors.
From the perspective of market economy, China's catering industry is fully competitive, and whether the price of dishes rises or falls is largely affected by the relationship between supply and demand. Especially for Chinese catering, the market is highly fragmented and the competition is fierce. Consumers have great discretion. If consumers feel that the price-performance ratio after the price increase is too low, it is not as cost-effective as before, and it is not as affordable as other restaurants, and they can go directly to other stores for consumption.
From a legal point of view, the catering industry is a fully competitive industry, which implements market pricing, and catering enterprises enjoy independent pricing power within a reasonable range. In other words, as long as the price increase of food and beverage brands is clearly marked and fully protects consumers' right to know and choose, it will not harm the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
Of course, in order to solve the operating pressure under the influence of the epidemic, catering brands should also apply good ideas such as strengthening management and reducing costs. Local management departments must implement a series of national rescue policies recently issued by the state.
(Author address: Xingui Community, Dongcheng, Mengyin County, Linyi City, Shandong Province)
He Yong