General Merchants chef in warning over food price pressures

The chef behind the hugely popular General Merchants chain of cafes and restaurants in Northern Ireland has warned no-one in hospitality is immune from having to put up their prices.

Tim Featherston, who opened his first GM venue in 2015 along with business partners Sam Alexander and Curt Wigham, told LCN:  “I remember watching the price of chicken soar and we took some items off the menu at some venues.

“The price of all food has gone up and we have to adapt to it, we can’t put food up to ridiculous prices, but it will have to go up.”

While the war in Ukraine has sparked a worldwide spike in food costs Tim feels his business is more likely than some to cope with the impact, and the fact that soaring inflation has left many people with far less disposable income to spend on eating out.

He explained: “Maybe we will feel the hit further down the line as we are more affordable than fine dining. Everyone is going to have to adapt in their own way. I firmly believe that whatever we do we will always have some affordable food and coffee.

“If we have to change our dishes or people eat out less those are small sacrifices. We have some great chefs, and they can adapt as needs be.

“At the end of the day we are lucky, we are not the ones in the Ukraine. You worry about older people affording power this winter and you always have to put things in perspective.

“People like getting out and having a coffee or a porridge, doing an online meeting in the café… hopefully that café culture survives.”

Read more in the upcoming edition of LCN.