Major Key Issues and Challenges that the Food service Industry faces can be broadly divided into the following categories: * Economic /Market Factors * Operational Factors * Fragmented Supply Chain * Government/ Regulatory Factors * Consumers Factors
Economic/ Market Factors * Rising Food Costs: Food price inflation is a key factor affecting the food services market in India and is impacted by delayed monsoons, the economic slowdown and unfavourable demand-supply conditions. Across all food services formats, food costs (raw materials) account for 30%-35% of the revenues. The perpetual rise in food costs narrows the player’s margins, compelling them to increase menu prices. This in turn affects the price conscious customers. * Fragmented Market, Increasing Competition: The Food market has many small and mid-sized unorganized players competing with large chain players. This fragmented market reflects a number of challenges, including the unclear format segmentation, varied consumer options for eating out, and the lack of best practices for the industry there are a number of players who offer products that are more or less similar, at competitive prices. No single player leads the market and also low on customer loyalty. This makes it a challenge for players to engage and retain consumers.
Operational Factors * Manpower Issues: The Indian hospitality industry is labour-intensive, but the availability of trained chefs, managerial staff and other support staff is low. According to a study done by Ministry of tourism the current supply of skilled trained manpower is estimared to 9% of total manpower requirement. Given this shortfall of quality manpower requirements and the industry’s high attrition rate the cost of labour is high. * Real estate Issues: High Real Estate and labour cost impacting the profitability. For more than a decade the Real Estate industry in India is touching the sky and the demand for