Second rate increase this year.

[premmington]

I got into the habit of making lunch instead of buying it during the lockdown/s and I've just continued doing it. Which got me thinking, I can't remember when or why I stopped?

It appears that the huge number of convenience food shops created a demand to supply, because they certainly aren't a necessity. 'Back in the day' some Fridays lunch would be from the chippy or a hot sandwich from the roach coach. Apprentices would get their's bought for them in return for keeping their fitter's toolbox clean and tidy during the week. Pre-pandemic it was the accepted norm to spend four or five times the cost of a packed lunch on a single sandwich.

So I would suggest that such a wide range of convenience food, coffee shops and the like are now being exposed as a poor business model rather than being let down by anyone. Quite a few things were exposed during the recent turmoil which gave rise to people thinking "Hang on a minute ....". Convenience food, driving to supermarkets, importing everything, leasing vehicles/machinery (overheads which had to be covered rather than capital assets) etc. Not all of the knock on effects will be bad medium to long term, but the adjustment will be painful in the short term.

So I would suggest that such a wide range of convenience food, coffee shops and the like are now being exposed as a poor business model rather than being let down by anyone. Quite a few things were exposed during the recent turmoil which gave rise to people thinking "Hang on a minute ....". Convenience food, driving to supermarkets, importing everything, leasing vehicles/machinery (overheads which had to be covered rather than capital assets) etc. Not all of the knock on effects will be bad medium to long term, but the adjustment will be painful in the short term.

Very well written (wish I was as articulate as you are).