Mysuru hotels hike food prices; blame fuel costs

MYSURU: Hotels and eateries have increased prices of snacks and beverages owing to an increase in prices of essential supplies.
From coffee, tea, kashaya to the popular masala dosa and mini meals, prices are up from 5% to 50%. Many north Indian restaurants also increased prices. This comes after fuel, LPG and raw material prices skyrocketed.
Mysuru District Hotel Owners Association president C Narayana Gowda said, “We have increased the price of food stuffs by an average of 10%. Rates of all raw materials including LPG cylinders have gone up. We need to follow Covid appropriate behaviour including regular sanitisation, distance between two tables, etc. So, it was inevitable.”
“This increase has been made both in South Indian and North Indian restaurants. For example, the price of mini meals which was earlier Rs.30 to Rs.35 has been increased to Rs.40 - Rs.45. Masala dosa is now dearer by 20%. Earlier each dosa was priced at Rs 50 but today, it is Rs.60. “The main culprit is the hike in petrol and diesel prices,” he said.
“Good quality tea powder was earlier available for Rs 350 to Rs 360. Now it has crossed Rs.550. The increase in water and electricity bills also forced us to revise prices,” Gowda said.
M Shridhar Goli, owner of Manur Maiyas near Vivekananda Circle says increasing prices was inevitable for them. Beverage prices have been fixed at Rs 15 per cup against the earlier Rs 10, while a masala dosa at his hotel now costs Rs 60.
“Rates of all raw materials used in the hotel industry have skyrocketed. From cooking oil to LPG, all have become dearer. We don’t have any other option to survive in the business,” he said.
Bhaskar Mendon, owner of Amrutha veg family restaurant said prices of tea, coffee and other beverages increased from Rs 10 to Rs 15. “Tea and coffee powder prices have almost doubled in the last few months. The price of LPG cylinder, which was Rs 750 to Rs 800, has now touched Rs 1,500. Similarly wages of staff have also increased,” he said.