"Let those businessmen who are satisfied when twenty customers come to their restaurant a week throw me with ponchos." And those people whose heart doesn't hurt after chewing a salad for 20 euros and leaving a "tea" for 5 euros", says Rokas Medonis, who does not shy away from burgers with bold statements restaurant "Keulė rūke" manager.
According to him, if restaurants and cafes want to increase their audience, they must reduce prices, which are insanely inflated, at least in Vilnius. Citizens should also speak louder about the need for lower prices.
Lithuanians spend an average of 2% on breakfast, lunch or dinner in restaurants, cafes and eateries. of personal income, according to the latest research conducted by Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union (EU). This is almost three times less than the overall EU average, which is 6,8 percent.
"Let's calculate if the monthly budget of one family is, for example, 1,5 thousand. euros for dinner in a restaurant, if we were to rely on the research data, she spends only 30 euros per month. Therefore, for such an amount in a better restaurant, a couple can buy, say, a beef entrecote, share it in half and, after drinking one glass of wine, go home. That's how much fun it is - once a month," says R. Medonis.
Lithuanians also lag behind neighboring countries in terms of eating in restaurants or cafes. Latvians spend 5 percent, and Estonians - about 5,7 percent. of personal income per month.
Lithuanians usually go to catering establishments during lunch (70%), a little less (41%) - in the evenings. Meanwhile, the habit of eating in a restaurant in the morning has not yet caught on in our country. Only 2 percent of people in Lithuania have breakfast outside their home, according to a study conducted by the international market research company "Nielsen".
According to R. Medonis, in order for the situation to change, it is necessary for entrepreneurs to carefully assess the price-to-visitor ratio, and for visitors to finally start dictating their own "rules of the game".
"Today, it is easy for restaurants to create a luxury and quality product and sell it at a high price. However, I believe that the essence of capitalism is to sell the consumer the best product at the lowest possible price. But not the other way around. That's what we and the team are aiming for," says R. Medonis.
In response to the current market situation, Keulė rūke introduces two new complex products to the menu in January. One of them - a hamburger with homemade sausage, fries and a drink will cost 4,5 euros, and the other - homemade sausages, fries and a drink - only 4 euros.
"Having a quick and hearty lunch often becomes a headache for a Vilnius resident, because everyone "spoils" at least 5-6 euros from your wallet for a plate of pureed soup and salad with poor Polish feta cheese. Seeing such nonsense, we came up with an economically blasphemous proposal," says the manager of a brand characterized by bold decisions.
The Nielsen study also showed that the price of a meal is important to Lithuanians. Approximately every third resident of the country stated that when choosing a meal at a restaurant, they first pay attention to the price.
