“Moral from this fairy tale: Pizza is not only flour and cheese. The industry is permanently barely zoning since 2020 (Covid, inflation +80 percent on products, Polish order, i.e. rising labor costs). We are doing advice, because we have a lot of movement, but the mass of pubs will unfortunately fall” – wrote the restaurant owner.
We decided to check whether prices in restaurants in Poland have recently been rising and whether other restaurateurs are also facing the increase in operating costs. – Buda with kebab has the best chance, because the costs are low, and Poles cannot live without Kebs – we hear from one of them, who, however, did not want to talk to us in fear of the hunt in the network.
The numbers speak for themselves
We look at the data that the Central Statistical Office publishes every month. According to these readings, the problem of inflation in Poland has almost disappeared, and prices in the economy ceased to rise at an alarming rate, as it was 2-3 years ago. The latest publication shows that in September inflation was 2.9 percent.
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CSO, NBP, own study
At the same time, however, GUS shows how prices in individual industries and sectors of the economy behave. Among them is also the category “Restaurants and Hotels”.
A short data analysis shows that in each month of 2025 prices in this category increased much faster than the CPI inflation shows. Examples? In April, the general indicator was 4.3 percent, and in the case of gastronomy – 6.1 percent July? 3.1 and 5.8 percent August? 2.9 and 5.7 percent
As you can see, there were months when The price growth rate in hotels and restaurants was nearly twice as high as in the entire economy. We asked at the source about the reasons for this.
See also: I ate in the most famous pizzeria in Poland. “This action was a reflex of the heart”
“I try to understand both sides”
Marek Barański has been running a popular restaurant under the name of ribs! For several years in the center of Wrocław. As he admits in an interview with Business Insider, he understands complaining about expensive among both guests and restaurateurs.
– Over the years, the owners of the premises received letters with increases, so it had to be reflected in prices. On the other hand, when I go to the restaurant, I have no problems with a raise, but if quality goes hand in hand. Unfortunately, it happens that prices are rising and the quality decreases. And this is very short -sighted – says Barański.
What is growing on the cost side the fastest? – Probably an increase in employee salaries. For three years, wages have grown by half. At the same time, people earning a little better could not count on such increases. And they are largely clients of restaurant. The costs have increased, and the turnover did not. At least not to the same extent – explains the restaurateur.
The prices of the goods itself are also rising. Food is getting more and more expensive, which everyone can see in everyday shopping in stores. But as our interlocutor admits, restaurateurs are easier because there is a chance to negotiate with suppliers with large orders.
Banks are also not eager to give financing to restaurants. – In the industry it is said that “it may be hard, but it has been hard for 20 years” – adds the owner of the ribs!.
We ask Barański if he did not think about publishing such an entry as Vaffanapoli. – Rather not, but I understand perfectly where he came from. We decided that we prefer to figure out from the menu, introduce “All You Can Eat” promotions and see that it brings results. Guests are happy to use it because they know that they will definitely eat. We also put a lot of emphasis on not saving on quality. This is our priority, because loosening in this matter always ends badly – he says.
Rib owner! He adds that stories such as the August scandal with the spending of funds from the national reconstruction plan certainly does not help the entire industry.
– People are furious and I am not surprised. Fortunately, they got more fierce to those combinators who bought yachts or apartment for rent. Honest, they actually spent money on investments in business – says Marek Barański. And he quickly adds that his place did not receive any money from KPO.
Poles eat more in the city
We wrote in Business Insider Polska a few weeks ago that according to Dun & Bradstreet data Poland gastronomy has grown by 1.7 percent during the first six months of this year.
– June 2025 will go down in history as the month in which the number of gastronomy facilities in Poland for the first time exceeded the 100,000 limit. – emphasized in an interview with Rzeczpospolita Tomasz Starzyk, spokesman for Dun & Bradstreet.
However, the report shows that The most dynamic development was recorded in the sector of moving gastronomic points, i.e. food trucks. This is where the costs are relatively lowest, so it's easiest to start in this industry.
Data also shows that Poles are more and more willing to eat away from home, and are also more open to culinary diversity. – Poles not only loved food in the city, but are also ready to experiment – they try new flavors, cuisine from around the world and often reach for food served from food trucks – explained Starzyk.
