The Cost Of: Rising cost of breakfast favorites has restaurant owners feeling the pinch
The cost of breakfast is soaring, with eggs increasing by 65% over the last year, according to Labor Department data.
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The cost of breakfast is soaring, with eggs increasing by 65% over the last year, according to Labor Department data.
Coffee prices have also hit a 48-year high, affecting local businesses.
Perhaps no one knows the cost of groceries better than a chef.
Stathis Antonakopoulos, the owner of the Carnegie Diner in Secaucus, is feeling the impact of rising food costs. "We're taking the focus out of cooking inside the good food and trying to be in the field and we really don't want to do that. It's very frustrating cause you know we're in the restaurant business we love to be here for us it's a way of life and the guests they don't care about that they don't want to see the price fluctuate when they order food so for us we're trying to adapt and adjust," said Antonakopoulos.
He can't raise costs on customers every time they go up for him, and he wrestles with that decision. Antonakopoulos says he's loyal to his vendors, so he doesn't want to bounce around.
To cope with rising costs, Antonakopoulos has started buying eggs and tomatoes directly from a farm in Pennsylvania, using a corporate van to transport the goods. This approach has helped him save around 3-4% on costs. Despite the challenges, Antonakopoulos remains committed to serving high-quality food to his customers.
