The economic pressure on catering businesses has intensified significantly in recent years. According to the Kitchen Barometer 2026, 56% of respondents reported increased food and raw material costs, 52% reported higher energy costs, and 44% reported higher staff costs.
News – 2026-05-27
Rising energy, raw material and staff costs are putting increasing pressure on the catering and hospitality sectors. At the same time, many businesses continue to invest in modern kitchen technology in the hope of reducing their running costs in the long term. However, in an increasingly volatile economic climate, the question of when an investment will pay off is becoming ever more important and increasingly complex.
Digital tools can help businesses to navigate this complexity and compare different scenarios based on real operational data. RATIONAL, for example, offers an online ROI calculator at https://roi.rational-online.com/en_ca/#cost that allows businesses to input their circumstances and simulate investment scenarios. This enables the potential ROI to be transparently assessed and incorporated into the decision-making process. Furthermore, RATIONAL provides personalised support in assessing investments, analysing key influencing factors, and calculating the individual ROI.