Catering prices to spike by 10% per plate this summer

Mangaluru: In the upcoming summer season, catering orders in Dakshina Kannada will see a 10% increase in cost per plate. The Dakshina Kannada Catering Owners Association, after a series of meetings, has decided to hike prices.
Rajgopal Rai, president of the association, said that increased raw material, tax, and labour costs have forced caterers in the region to go for a hike.The association has also asked caterers to hike prices depending on each dish.
“The association, which comprises caterers that serve all communities in the region, has unanimously decided to hike rates by 10% per plate. It is the need of the hour for a hike, since profit margins have reduced considerably due to increased raw material and labour costs, and increase in taxes,” said Rai. “The price of every raw material we purchase have gone up. For example, a locally manufactured ice cream firm alone has increased its price by 20% in a year,” he said.
A Ashwatham Hegde, proprietor of Tulunadu Food Catering Services, said that servers employed by the catering firm were paid around Rs 600 per event. “Currently, it has increased to Rs 800 to Rs 900. The female staff are now paid Rs 500, which was around Rs 350 to Rs 400. Based on the decision of the association, we have decided on a 10% hike.”
He added that the basic vegetarian menu currently is charged anywhere between Rs 300 to Rs 330 per plate, whereas non-veg with four types of meat dishes costs Rs 350 per plate. The menu with fish costs between Rs 460 to Rs 475 per plate, shared Hegde. He further said that April and May are known as busy seasons with weddings and other auspicious events every year. However, Moudya (days when weddings are not conducted as per the Hindu calendar) in May will leave the entire industry without any events.
Another caterer, Primus D’Souza, said, “We have decided to increase the price by Rs 10 per plate only on pork dishes. The pork prices have seen an increase of 40% this year, and are expected to rise further. We have not increased the prices of other dishes.”