Business owners have warned that in order for them to survive, prices will need to increase. They have also noticed that regular customers are returning once a month rather than every week as the cost of living crisis bites hard, reports Birmingham Live.
Birmingham’s Shale Ahmed has warned: “Business owners have seen their shopping bills go up around 40 per cent.
“The cost of oil has gone from £17 for 20 litres to £44, and restaurants go through about 100 litres a week.
“If you charge customers accordingly, a curry would have to cost between £25 to £30, which is not sustainable.”
He says some eateries are seeing bills soar from £8,500 to almost £25,000.
He added: “Loyal customers are now only visiting once a month rather than every week.
“I don’t think many businesses will last the winter, let alone into the next year.”
He warned: “People will not come, even now loyal customers are now only visiting one a month or a quarter rather than every week as purse strings tighten.
“It’s certainly not suitable in its current form.
“I don’t think many businesses will last through winter, let alone into the next year.
“People are not going to come through the doors and we’re going to have empty restaurants and takeaways which will be forced to close.”
Birmingham is the home of the Balti – a curry that is prepared in the traditional round-bottomed balti dish, cooked over a high heat with spiced fresh meat and/or vegetables – with many award-winning curry houses across the city.
Mr Ahmed, who runs Aspire & Succeed, a community and youth organisation, estimates that around seven in 10 restaurants could be shuttered amid the Cost of Living crisis.
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