Ghossain’s Gourmet Mediterranean Food talks about inflation and food shortages

CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) — Inflation has hit the restaurant industry hard. Food prices keep rising as keeping workers becomes harder to do.
Ghossain’s Gourmet Mediterranean Food has three restaurants across the valley. They have existed since 1970, under three generations. Today, some of the main foods they eat are affected by inflation.
“It’s just been a little harder than usual, getting things, supplies,” owner Joseph Ghossain said.
Joseph said he might only get half of his order due to their distributor’s labor shortage or other reasons, and the chicken prices started to rise.
“Everything has been up. Supply and demand, when supply is limited, prices will obviously go up,” Joseph said.
They started buying their chicken from nearby stores. Same thing with gyro meat. The problem with the chicken and the gyroscope is similar.
“Sometimes you will have less. Sometimes you will see price spikes. It is therefore difficult to keep pace with the evolution of costs,” said Joseph.
Joseph said they had a good supply of flour for their pita bread, but those prices were rising and they were supplying local shops and restaurants.
“And everything is distributed by truck. Transportation costs, in some cases, have tripled or quadrupled,” Joseph said.
Joseph said they had to adjust the prices, but it also takes time for other tasks. They also have a reduced staff due to labor shortages.
“We’re doing more with fewer people right now and they’re getting paid more as a result,” Joseph said.
Now, anyone struggling with inflation or food shortages or maybe even both, the big question is how much longer is this going to last?
“Never, at least in my 20 years of full-time work, have I noticed you being attacked on all fronts,” Joseph said.