Shortages and Covid fear foretell another bleak winter

I recall hearing (within the last year I believe) that grocery stores would be suffering a pork shortage. Yesterday Kroger had back ribs on sale half price. Not too many turkeys to be seen however. It made me wonder how much some of these shortages are contrived? At least for products on this side of the oceans. I honestly don’t know.

As far as how the industry is morphing- (shrugs)
McDonalds announced they would be raising their pricing. A Big Mac combo is already around $8+.
With supermarkets packaging healthy, cook at home meals for the same or a wee bit more , there’s not much incentive to utilize fast food unless time is a constraint. I’m thinking drive thrus will eliminate their dining rooms thereby reducing their manpower needs/costs as well as utility costs/ operating costs. Maybe genuine restaurants and dining will return to “special occasion “ situation , demanding better chefs, serving professionals and paying a equitable salary for them.
Would any of that be a bad thing?

It doesn’t matter what you pay.
If you try to redirect a cook they will feel disrespected and no call next day. Hey don’t be on your phone while working a deep fryer and not paying attention at all? No call no show. Hey we just spent hours making this guacamole so this is how you keep it from oxidizing to not waste this product. No call no show. They can all get a job w no reference checked the next day. We’re that short.
And when you give a damn it means the cook/owner is bouncing around trying to pick up the stuff that his suppliers are 86’ing. This week it happens to be mushrooms and avocados. The suppliers do a great job of warning us what we will be short/price increases but it’s usually very last minute and then you scramble.

Interesting story from The Washington Post…

https://apple.news/AWxTJ0s_VQt-IavDPXCexYQ

[Robin Garr]

Interesting story from The Washington Post…

Here's a link that will usher you past the paywall:

https://wapo.st/3wn89n0

Sunday NULU hop.

12:00 at Bar Vetti - not an open seat anywhere
1:00 at Garage Bar - maybe 50% full
1:30 at La Bodeguita - not an open seat
1:45 at Nulu Marketplace - courtyard was 90% full, inside spots were 50%
3:00 at Feast - 40% full inside
4:00 at Ten20 - 75% full outside, 40% inside

Sunday NULU hop.

12:00 at Bar Vetti - not an open seat anywhere
1:00 at Garage Bar - maybe 50% full
1:30 at La Bodeguita - not an open seat
1:45 at Nulu Marketplace - courtyard was 90% full, inside spots were 50%
3:00 at Feast - 40% full inside
4:00 at Ten20 - 75% full outside, 40% inside

I drove through NuLu on the way to the soccer stadium Saturday evening around 7:30. Those places were all hopping!

I don't think covid will play the same role as during the previous winter. People who are going out regularly will continue to do so. Also, unlike last year, entertainment venues are opened now and people will be looking to dine before and after. Others who are still uncomfortable around folks in closed quarters will continue to support the pick up and carryout end of the business. Igloos may be around as simply a way to add outside options. My wife was at 8Up last weekend. Her group was outside on the terrace in an igloo and really enjoyed it.


I see issues more involving shortages of some supplies and keeping a steady staff. I also think that many folks feel a bit looser with money as the stock market and cryptocurrencies fly high! This gravy train may not sustain itself going into the winter, hence less money to toss around for restaurant dining.

I ordered 10 pizzas from Pizza Hut today for staff. It was supposed to be delivered at 10:30. I called at 11:30 to check and was told the order was canceled due to lack of ingredients and delivery drivers.

Pizza Hut is out of pizza.

[Robin Garr]

That really had to be frustrating, Justin! And a little alarming.

That really had to be frustrating, Justin! And a little alarming.

Yes, both.

Big props to Little Caesars. Showed up and they pumped out 12 pizzas and 4 cheesy breads in 10 minutes. The pizza wasn't half bad either.

Kept the hungry mob that I had promised lunch to off my back.

That really had to be frustrating, Justin! And a little alarming.

Yes, both.

Big props to Little Caesars. Showed up and they pumped out 12 pizzas and 4 cheesy breads in 10 minutes. The pizza wasn't half bad either.

Kept the hungry mob that I had promised lunch to off my back.

Sounds like someone out-pizza-ed the Hut.

Big props to Little Caesars. Showed up and they pumped out 12 pizzas and 4 cheesy breads in 10 minutes. The pizza wasn't half bad either.

Kept the hungry mob that I had promised lunch to off my back.

I guess you know who you will be going back to in the future! We've been having problems with Pizza Hut for quite a while and have completely given up getting pizza from them. Recently our go to place for delivery has been Derby City Pizza of course they also have their problems but it seemed like everybody does these days.

Yesterday I was at the Kroger shopping center found on LaGrange Rd at 265. It was 4:00PM . The KFC sign in their lot indicated they were hiring at $12 an hour. The store itself was closed with signs taped to the doors and drive thru saying closed due to lack of staffing. I watched as 3 different cars (as early as 4PM) drove in to the lot, up to the ordering drive thru then away. Lost business. ( Other restaurants in the center were open (a McDonalds, an Arby's, and a Long John Silvers/Taco Bell.) and working their drive thru lines at a decent pace. ) This particular KFC has been plagued by problems for quite a while, long before Covid hit. Things like out of dark meat by 5:30, incorrect orders, overcharging, constant turnover of help. That , I think, indicates poor management. I don't know if they are a corporate store or franchised but whoever was in charge wasn't very successful at restaurant management.
When the nation is looking at $15 an hour for a minimum wage, $12 an hour isn't going to hack it. for a full time worker that's a difference of $120 a week. May not seem much to people but that can buy/pay for some very important, monthly bills. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay enough you get nothing. If you can't afford to pay a living wage to your workers you can't afford to be in business OR you may need to whittle your own profits. The thing is, the public isn't obligated to be your slave and work for slave wages so YOU can get ahead.

And that's my socialistic rant for the day. (By the way, my mother and father owned three successful independent restaurants, never had a staffing problem that lasted longer than a day and kept a very low turnover among their staff. But then, they were known to pay their staff well and treat them like humans, not chattel.)

Aldi's is always out of Moser Roth now .. must be in a container ship somewhere!

Captains Quarters ordered some more igloos for winter