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Colin
Wong, a co owner of the Aroma Group of Chinese restaurants has vowed
to hold his prices, despite sharp rises in his own suppliers' costs -
which have increased by more than a quarter in a month.
Wong who owns
restaurants in Basildon, Braintree, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Wood
Green, Luton, Northampton, Shepherd's Bush and Wembley has seen the
price of rice rise by 25% in the past month.
Aroma is spending
an extra £3,000 a month on neck end of pork alone, the price of
which has soared by 28% since June.
Last month a roast
duck cost £5.50 per kg. It is now £6.89 - up more than 25%.
Vegetable oil was
£10.50 for a 20kg drum six months ago. The price has since doubled.
Aroma expects
other costs to increase as higher prices for energy, fuel and animal
feed work their way through the system.
Aroma Restaurant
prices last rose 2 years ago - by a mere 2%.
Despite these
severe cost hikes Aroma is committed to holding its prices for at
least - as long as customers stay loyal and numbers do not drop.
"Because
we offer good value all-you-can-eat-for-a-fixed-price buffet dining
from as little as £6.80 for adults and £4.20 for small
children, many of our customers are on modest budgets - pensioners,
students and families," said Wong, "These people
have been the hardest hit by recent food, petrol and heating costs
and a trip to an Aroma restaurant represents a major part of their
monthly budget."
Wong is critical
of the media for trying to talk the country into recession.
"There
seems to be bad news on the economy in papers everyday. I'm sure all
restaurants and many other businesses are suffering from the
increased costs and customers on limited incomes are feeling the
pinch, but fine dining restaurants catering for the well-heeled are
as busy as ever," he said
Aroma Restaurant
Group, Unit 12, The io Centre, Whittle Way, Stevenage, Herts SG1 2BD
W: www.thearoma.co.uk
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