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Jun 2023

Last Updated: 24/06/2023

Business

Spiralling costs force closure of award-winning Ripon cafe

by Tim Flanagan

| 24 Jun, 2023

The cost of living crisis, increased energy bills and spiralling inflation are forcing an award-winning Ripon cafe to close its doors in a month's time.

Caffe Tempo, based at The Arcade since the summer of 2017, has won the Restaurant Guru Best Coffeehouse in Ripon title for six consecutive years, along with Tripadvisor awards last year and in 2020.

But it said numerous financial challenges outside of its control have made the business unviable.

Owner Tina Whincup (pictured above) told the Stray Ferret:

"Our annual turnover has grown to around £220,000, but we haven't been able to make a profit because all of our bills have gone up."

Office for National Statistics figures released this week showed year-on-year inflation remaining at 8.7%, but Ms Whincup said:

"The reality is that many of the raw products that we use for the items that we bake, have increased between 100% and 300%.

"To transfer this to the items that we sell makes them so expensive that they go from every day purchases made by our customers, to a once in a while treat."

She added:

"Although we have remained busy every day, the average spend per person has reduced significantly and it is with great sadness that we are calling time on Caffe Tempo. Our last day of trading will Saturday July 22.

"This has not been an easy decision for us, but unfortunately the challenges the hospitality industry has faced and continued to face have reached the point of no return.

"Our industry has had the worst three years in modern history, with two years of on-off closures, a cost of living crisis and also a shortage of staff.

"When we add in the increase in minimum wage, energy costs at over £900 per month, which could increase to £1,800 per month, when our current contract comes to an end, we find ourselves in a situation that is no longer viable."

Staffing shortages have seen Ms Whincup working 70 hour weeks since the years of covid closures to keep the business going, but she is now looking elsewhere for employment, along with her two members of staff, including her daughter Elise.

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Spiralling costs force closure of award-winning Ripon cafe

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