LinkedIn·Tuesday, 11 August 2026·15d ago

Salsa Shop has barely raised its prices in two years. Against a backdrop of rising energy costs, rising food costs and inflation, that’s…

Guy Van Neck

Founder at Khova.ai

Salsa Shop has barely raised its prices in two years. Against a backdrop of rising energy costs, rising food costs and inflation, that’s something worth shouting about. 71% of restaurants plan on raising their prices this year, and it’s easy to understand why. Costs are up across the board, margins are tight, and for a lot of operators, it feels like their only choice. Over the last few years, the playbook for a lot of restaurant brands was simple: price increase, price increase, price increase. Inflation made it easy to justify. But when those high prices are paired with a decrease in quality? That’s when customers start asking if the meal is still worth what they're paying for it. Salsa Shop faced the same pressures as the rest of the industry. They chose to hold the line and bet that customers would notice the difference over time. What I’ve seen, working closely with them, is that the bet paid off. Margins under control, more and more happy customers returning. Price increases buy you margin today. Trust is what keeps customers coming in the door when the market gets tight. #pricingstrategies #customerexperience #customerservice #Brandloyalty