Corona lockdown with devastating consequences: Situation threatening the very existence of many catering establishments

• The Corona-The pandemic has hardly hit an industry as hard as gastronomy and hotels.
• This is also shown by a look at the data published on Monday Federal office of statistics.
• Now comes the second corona wave. Many companies are threatened with this Out.

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Munich – The Corona* Pandemic and the lockdown in spring led to a drastic drop in sales at restaurants, cafes, caterers and bars. From March to August, the earnings of restaurateurs in Germany fell by 40.5 percent compared to the same period last year, like that Federal Statistical Office announced on Monday. Regional Lockdowns*, Contact restrictions and curfew hours hit “the catering industry particularly hard,” wrote the statisticians.

The slumps were strongest in the lockdown month of April. At that time, income in the industry plummeted by over two thirds compared to the previous year. Since then, however, sales have gradually recovered, it said.

The worst break-ins would have to cope with companies that make their living primarily from drinks such as pubs and bars. There, the proceeds from March to August fell by almost half. In restaurants and pubs the minus 29.3 percent was also very strong, but not quite as strong as in bars. Apparently, the companies could have absorbed at least part of the drop in guests through take-away offers and delivery services, said the Wiesbaden statisticians.

There is hardly any improvement in sight at the moment. In the fight against Corona *, many regions have ordered earlier curfew hours. There are also extensive contact restrictions.

Gastronomy: Corona pandemic leads to severe job cuts

The drastic slump in sales has already led to massive job cuts in the catering industry. From March to August the number of employees was around 18 percent below the same period of the previous year. The development has not yet been reflected in the number of bankruptcies. Apparently the relaxation of bankruptcy law is making itself felt here. However, the regulation expires at the end of the year. Then the situation could threaten the very existence of many companies.

Gastronomy: Hotel and restaurant association warns of bankruptcies of unprecedented proportions

In view of the development, the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (Dehoga) is also alarmed: “61.6 percent of hospitality entrepreneurs fear for their existence,” the association warned at the beginning of September. A “wave of bankruptcies of unprecedented proportions” threatens.

In order to cushion the worst consequences, the VAT cut on food and beverages must be extended beyond the end of the year. In addition, the tenancy and lease law must be adapted, demanded Dehoga President Guido Zöllick. It could not be that, for example, hotels that were occupied by 15 percent would have to pay the rent that would be incurred at 80 percent occupancy, said Zöllick. *Merkur.de is part of the nationwide Ippen Digital editorial network.

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