By Ibrahim Kutbi

Okaz

JEDDAH — The income of restaurants in the kingdom is estimated at billion of riyals annually, according to statistics. Despite the fact that the amount of investment is huge in this sector under famous commercial brands, this sector is managed in an unorganized way and competing in high prices. There is no classification of restaurants like the way it is done in many other countries, more or less like the classification of hotels with the number of stars. There is no specified limit to the prices, instead of the chaos that we are witnessing here where each restaurant is setting up the prices the way they want.

Most of the restaurants that are widely spreading in most big cities, like Jeddah and Riyadh, have no control over their prices and it is harming consumers. If all these restaurants were classified and conditions were set in terms of services and prices that is controlled by a joint committee from ministry of commerce, municipality and consumer protection; and if restaurants were forced to get the classification permits, then consumers will receive quality services and safe food with reasonable prices. They will then chose based on their desire and budget on the food the want.

Not having this classification and the chaos that is witnessed when it comes to pricing, without offering advanced solutions, will leave the door wide open to exploit consumers. The beautiful decoration and good service, despite its important, is not a justification for high prices. Most of these restaurants are getting their meat from the wholesale market for reasonable price and then serve it to consumers for unreasonable price in a form of dishes and meals. Some restaurants are serving one quarter of grilled meat for SR100 per person and it double if it was for family meal, depending on the number of family members. Is it logical that the price per burger per person reaches between SR60 to SR80 per meal, when at the ends it is just bread and small piece of meat?

Why these unnecessary over pricing at these restaurants? On what bases these prices are increased this way? The answer is missing of course because the price planning itself is missing at this sector that is growing fast. This sector is luring huge investment, attracting young entrepreneurs and it can generate hundreds of thousands of job opportunities. The delay behind classifying restaurants is something strange.

I wish if the situation with restaurants was limited to pricing and chaos. What is more strange is condition of restaurants in underdeveloped neighborhoods. The field inspection by authorities have revealed many shocking things. Food is not monitored and so is cooking oil. There is so much unhealthy fat in the food that is served to consumers that harms the heart and liver of people. The food preparation for these restaurants is done behind doors in unknown locations under very dirty environment. The health condition of those preparing such food is even worst. God only knows what more is hidden.

I focus a lot on the operation of the municipality and its members on these random restaurants in the underdeveloped neighborhoods and I say that their field inspections are not enough. The solution is in the planning and classifying of the restaurant sector. There should be electronic link between the municipality and service department with restaurants. All restaurants should be linked with cameras where officials can see their daily work. They should not only resort to field inspection, fining violating establishment and then when they leave, violation continues.