Restaurant Fear: Rising Minimum Wage Will Impact Food Quality
By: Kim Behrens
Updated: February 20, 2013
NORMAL- Governor Pat Quinn's proposed hike in the state's minimum wage might impact food.
Small business owners say the jump from $8.25 an hour to $10 could prevent fresh, local products from being served.
Meal Preparation:
Staff at DP Dough Calzones are hard at work.
While these Italian dishes aren't served until mid-morning, it takes more to make them than just a zap in the oven.
"The taste is completely different," said Mandeville. "I mean you get fresh product you can definitely taste it in there."
Jacob Mandeville has worked in food service for six years.
He prides DP Dough for using locally grown ingredients, and fewer preservatives.
"With fresh tomatoes, green peppers, green onion, peppers, you don't have to worry about any of that kind of stuff," said Mandeville.
But owner Ryan Fiala fears if minimum wage goes up from $8.25 an hour to $10 it'll be a recipe for disaster.
"There's a limit to what small business can bear, and I think $10 dollars an hour minimum wage would be a tipping point for some of the things we've seen progress in."
He says the bump could impact taste, meaning fewer fresh and more frozen items.
"People already think we're insane for making our cookies from scratch," said Fiala. "I have vendors tell me, 'buy my pre-made product.' "Minimum wage goes to $10 bucks an hour; it's going to be a much harder argument for me to make, to make our own cookies, our own dough, dicing our own vegetables, etc."
The owner of Chill Out Frozen Yogurt, Joe Ritacco agrees.
Fresh local fruit is always available at his shop.
"That's always a little bit more expensive, but I think the quality is better," said Ritacco.
But with higher costs across the board, something has to give.
These owners just don't want it to be the quality of their product.
"The more fresh items you get in, the less preservatives, and the less mystery substances you're dealing with," said Fiala.
Governor Quinn believes the hike helps support working class families.
But business owners argue that the minimum wage in states surrounding Illinois pay less than eight dollars an hour.
Small business owners say the jump from $8.25 an hour to $10 could prevent fresh, local products from being served.
Meal Preparation:
Staff at DP Dough Calzones are hard at work.
While these Italian dishes aren't served until mid-morning, it takes more to make them than just a zap in the oven.
"The taste is completely different," said Mandeville. "I mean you get fresh product you can definitely taste it in there."
Jacob Mandeville has worked in food service for six years.
He prides DP Dough for using locally grown ingredients, and fewer preservatives.
"With fresh tomatoes, green peppers, green onion, peppers, you don't have to worry about any of that kind of stuff," said Mandeville.
But owner Ryan Fiala fears if minimum wage goes up from $8.25 an hour to $10 it'll be a recipe for disaster.
"There's a limit to what small business can bear, and I think $10 dollars an hour minimum wage would be a tipping point for some of the things we've seen progress in."
He says the bump could impact taste, meaning fewer fresh and more frozen items.
"People already think we're insane for making our cookies from scratch," said Fiala. "I have vendors tell me, 'buy my pre-made product.' "Minimum wage goes to $10 bucks an hour; it's going to be a much harder argument for me to make, to make our own cookies, our own dough, dicing our own vegetables, etc."
The owner of Chill Out Frozen Yogurt, Joe Ritacco agrees.
Fresh local fruit is always available at his shop.
"That's always a little bit more expensive, but I think the quality is better," said Ritacco.
But with higher costs across the board, something has to give.
These owners just don't want it to be the quality of their product.
"The more fresh items you get in, the less preservatives, and the less mystery substances you're dealing with," said Fiala.
Governor Quinn believes the hike helps support working class families.
But business owners argue that the minimum wage in states surrounding Illinois pay less than eight dollars an hour.
Comments
ANY business that must subsidize quality of service on the backs of minimum wage workers should NOT be in business. If you can't afford to operate a business without forcing employees to live on poverty wages ... we don't need your business in our society. Period.
Michael L.
February 25, 2013 at 6:24 am
