The crisis kills fishmongers
The energy crisis is impacting the fresh food sector not only for the increase in the cost of transport, but also for the management of the cold chain. One of the most energy-intensive product categories is that of fish products because it requires constant activity in the cold chain and therefore the use of electricity. The activities of the retail trade of the fishing sector are in fact among the most penalized by the increase in the prices of energy supplies electric. There are not many solutions to cope with the increase in costs as refrigerators and cold rooms have to necessarily stay on day and night.
Among and for all the seaside cities, we have therefore taken into consideration the city of Taranto and the externalizations of those who work in the seafood sector. The latest bill of many small fishmongers is between three and four thousand euros – confirmed Luciano Carriero, president of Fishing Mussel farmers and Fish products retailers of Confcommercio Taranto – compared to seven hundred, eight hundred euros in the same period last year. Some merchants have decided to pay in a single payment, but many businesses have preferred to pay in installments, especially if the invoice is 14 thousand euros, as in the case of a Taranto fish market.
A situation that, according to Carriercan not hold up and that in the long run will be reflected in the restaurant industry which, for its part, denounces the increase in the costs of all products, including fish. Until now, most fishmongers have reacted to energy price increases by trying to limit the price increase sales at the counter – explained Carriero – so as not to further affect the consumption of fish, especially fresh. In spite of this, there are signs of change; in consumption there is a decline in About 30% and in the contraction of expenditure. According to Carriero, the consumer would be turning more and more towards a less valuable and low-cost product. The catering sector then, to which a large part of the sale of local fresh fish is directed more valuable has reduced purchases and the fear is that this important market will be drastically less.
“The fishmongers give a heartfelt cry of alarm. It is not time to throw in the towel – concluded Luciano Carriero – we want to fight and grit our teeth, we are confident in a recovery of the market for the holidays, but there are many months to go and in the meantime the expenses go on and we do not know how this situation will evolve; the solution for some was unfortunately the staff cut or turning off the signs, nothing else can be done. We cannot allow ourselves to stay closed a few days of the week to save electricity, because if you want to turn off the cells you have to empty everything. The hope is that the government will find quick solutions that allow us to be able to resist and move forward in the coming months, otherwise we will be forced to close, and then it will be the end for our activities and for the families of the workers in the fishing sector. It will be a social crisis as well as an economic one ”.
#Inflation #kills #fishmongers #consumption #families #restaurants #collapses