02/06/2026
Let’s talk about café prices…
Today the Fair Work Commission announced another increase to award wages of 4.75% from 1 July 2026.
What many people don’t realise is that this isn’t a one-off increase.
Over the last five years, cafés and restaurants have absorbed:
2022 – 4.6% wage increase
2023 – 5.75% wage increase
2024 – 3.75% wage increase
2025 – 3.5% wage increase
2026 – 4.75% wage increase
At the same time, compulsory superannuation has increased from 10% to 12%.
Before anyone jumps in, this is not about staff not deserving a pay rise. Our team work incredibly hard and deserve to be paid fairly.
But here’s the reality for cafés and restaurants…
In the last five years we’ve also seen increases in:
Coffee
Eggs
Bacon
Dairy product
Fresh produce
Meat and poultry
Electricity
Gas
Packaging
Merchant fees
Insurance
Cleaning supplies
Compliance costs
Award wages
Superannuation
Every time we adjust our menu prices, we hear comments like:
“Why is breakfast so expensive?”
“Cafés are getting too dear.”
“How can they charge that for eggs on toast?”
Trust us, we don’t enjoy increasing prices. We’d love nothing more than to keep everything exactly where it is.
But how are small hospitality businesses expected to absorb five consecutive years of wage increases, rising superannuation, increasing food costs, utilities, rent, insurance and compliance costs while somehow keeping menu prices frozen in time?
The reality is that a breakfast that cost $20 a few years ago costs significantly more to produce today.
Not because cafés are making more money.
Because every single cost involved in producing that meal has increased.
Most small cafés aren’t increasing prices because they’re getting rich.
They’re increasing prices because they’re trying to keep the doors open, continue employing local people, pay their staff properly, and remain viable in an environment where costs continue to rise from every direction.
We know times are tough for everyone!
And they’re tough for small businesses too.
So the next time you see your local café increase prices by a dollar or two, please remember that we’re facing cost increases across every aspect of our business.
We’re not asking for sympathy.
We’re asking for understanding.
❤️ Support local.
❤️ Support small business.
❤️ Support the businesses that employ local people.
❤️ Support the businesses that keep regional communities alive.
And here’s a genuine question…
How much has your grocery bill increased in the last five years?
Because ours has gone up every single year
