Cătălin Mahu, who owns La Mamarestaurant chain and Cafepedia coffee shops, says the market heoperates on is not feeling any rebound, though the economy hastheoretically exited recession, after it rose by 0.6% in the firstquarter.
As a result of the financialcrisis, the restaurant market dropped by 30-50% both in 2009 and2010, according to Mahu, who does not provide a total market valueas "no real assessment can be made, considering 95% of the marketis black or gray." He speaks of stagnation in 2011, which "willallow us to make plans".
As for his businesses, Mahu hopesfor a turnover increase by around 10%. His businesses, that isseven La Mama restaurants, three Cafepedia coffee shops and aCharlatans pub, last year generated revenues worth some EUR7million, flat from 2009.
This year, the businessman has bigplans. He is entering the Old Town, the main pole of attraction forrestaurant market players, for the first time. The value ofinvestments revolves around EUR1 million.
Though the Old Town has over 100restaurants, pubs and coffee shops at present, receiving 60,000persons on each working day and over 100,000 persons at weekends,Mahu says the "historical center is used only at 30% of itscapacity". He adds that for it to reach its full potential, itcannot have only restaurants and coffee shops. "Retailers and otherplayers in the services field must also enter. This will happen inthe next three to five years, though".
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