Tom Kerridge discusses new Italian cooking show and hospitality struggles
Chef Tom Kerridge talks about his new Italian cooking show and the challenges facing the hospitality industry.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Chef Tom Kerridge has spoken about the challenges facing the hospitality industry as he promotes his new Italian cooking show. In an interview, Kerridge revealed that only one of his five restaurants is currently making a profit, with the others either breaking even or losing money. He described the industry as 'very, very tight and hard' to operate in.
Kerridge pointed to five major factors that have squeezed margins since the pandemic: food inflation, rising utility bills, higher national insurance, increased business rates, and the minimum wage. He said the cost of key ingredients such as cooking oil and beef has risen by 150 to 200 percent over the past three to four years. 'Profit is oxygen,' he said, adding that without it businesses cannot invest in training or growth.
The chef called for a reduction in VAT for hospitality, noting that Ireland has cut its rate to 9 percent and most of Europe charges between 8 and 12 percent, while the UK remains at 20 percent. He urged viewers to sign a petition called 'VATS the problem', which he said has support from a wide range of businesses, from top-end restaurants to pubs and coffee shops.
Alongside the industry discussion, Kerridge talked about his new series 'Tom Kerridge Cooks Italy', which airs on ITV on Thursdays. He said the show reflects his love of travel and learning from other chefs and producers. He described Italian food as simple, regional, and seasonal, making it accessible for home cooks. He also offered cooking tips, advising people to use tinned ingredients, spices, and fresh herbs to create easy meals.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 |
|---|---|
| Food inflation has caused some ingredient prices to rise by 150 to 200 percent. | |
| Kerridge is calling for a reduction in VAT for hospitality to align with European levels. | |
| Only one of Tom Kerridge's five restaurants is making a profit. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The interview balanced promotion of Kerridge's new Italian cooking show with a detailed discussion of the financial pressures on the hospitality industry. The tone was conversational and supportive, allowing Kerridge to explain the challenges in depth and to advocate for VAT reform.
- “There's one that's making a profit. I wouldn't necessarily say it was decent. There's four that are sitting around about breakeven. One that might be making a small and one that's losing.”
- “Profit is oxygen. Profit is the thing that provides businesses with opportunity to grow and training and staff and all of those sort of things.”
- “So Ireland has just dropped its VAT down to 9%. The rest of Europe sits anywhere between 8 and 12% on VAT levels. We sit at 20%.”
Broadcast Timeline
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