Polski
Pricier Plates, Leaner Portfolios: What's New in the Foodservice Industry
September brings two pieces of news that, at first glance, don't seem to have much in common - yet they complement each other perfectly. On one hand, Statistics Poland (GUS) confirms that eating out is getting more expensive faster than almost anything else in the Polish economy. On the other, one of the giants of foodservice equipment shows that even the big players have to cut what isn't paying off. Let's take a look at what this means for the industry.
01 · Market & Prices
Restaurants Are Getting Pricier Faster Than the Rest of the Economy [1]
The latest data from Statistics Poland (GUS) leaves no doubt - eating out is currently one of the fastest-rising expense categories in Poland. In August 2026, prices at restaurants and accommodation venues were 4.2 percent higher than a year earlier and 0.3 percent higher than in July. For comparison, overall inflation in the country stood at 3.4 percent year-on-year over the same period. The gap looks small on paper, but it's telling - the HoReCa sector's prices are clearly rising faster than the economy as a whole [1]. For business owners, this means a tough choice between raising menu prices further and looking for savings elsewhere, before customers start cutting back on eating out.
The reasons come as no surprise: rising energy and labor costs have been driving up restaurant bills for months, and businesses pass them on to customers wherever the market allows. For venue owners, this is a signal that cost pressure isn't easing up - and that every operational saving, especially on energy, carries real value today. Kitchen equipment with lower power or gas consumption, more efficient refrigeration systems, automation that cuts labor costs - none of this is a nice-to-have anymore. It's becoming part of a survival strategy in a market where margins keep getting thinner.
02 · Manufacturer Consolidation
Middleby Bids Farewell to the Brewing Segment [2]
An interesting counterpoint to the Polish data is a decision by The Middleby Corporation, one of the world's largest manufacturers of foodservice equipment. On September 9, the company announced it would wind down its Brewing & Distilling Solutions group by the end of the year - a group that included the Deutsche Beverage + Process, Ss Brewtech, and Wild Goose Filling brands [2]. The group supplied equipment and solutions for craft breweries and distilleries - a segment that, after years of dynamic growth, has clearly slowed down lately.
The numbers speak for themselves - in 2025, the segment generated $24 million in revenue but also posted an EBITDA loss of around $9 million. In other words, the business was growing at the company's expense rather than to its benefit. Middleby has made it clear that it's focusing on simplifying its portfolio and concentrating capital on lines that actually turn a profit [2].
This is an important signal for the entire foodservice equipment industry - even companies with global scale and a broad brand portfolio can't afford to keep segments that don't add up financially. At a time when customers are focused on profitability and cost efficiency (see above), equipment manufacturers are doing exactly the same on their side of the business. For customers buying equipment, this also means it's worth paying attention to manufacturers' stability and strategic priorities - not just the price or technical specs of a given device.
03
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Rising prices at Polish restaurants and the cuts to Middleby's portfolio are, at their core, the same story seen from two different angles. The foodservice market - on both the operator and equipment supplier side - is entering a phase where efficiency matters more than scale at any cost. Restaurants are looking for savings in energy and labor; manufacturers are looking for them in their product lines. In both cases, it comes down to the same question: what's actually worth keeping, and what's better to let go of before the market does it for you. Whoever adapts to this reality first will gain the edge.
That's exactly why it's worth keeping an eye on what's new in energy-efficient kitchen equipment, refrigeration and heating technologies, and solutions that streamline kitchen operations. The best opportunity to see it all live, talk to suppliers, and compare offers will be ProKitchen Expo - Branżowe Targi Wyposażenia, Technologii i Instalacji dla Profesjonalnej Gastronomii. See you on the show floor!
Invitation
Rising restaurant prices and cuts to global manufacturers' portfolios point to one thing - today, efficiency matters more than scale. At ProKitchen Expo, you'll find equipment and technologies that genuinely cut energy and labor costs in your kitchen. See how next-generation refrigeration and heating solutions can help offset rising bills. Save the date and talk to suppliers on the show floor.
ProKitchen Expo 2026Footnotes
[1] HorecaTrends.pl — https://www.horecatrends.pl/hotele/118/restauracje_i_noclegi_nadal_drozeja_gus_podal_najnowsze_dane_o_cenach,96175.html[2] Nasdaq / Middleby Investor Relations — https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/middleby-discontinue-brewing-group-2026-09-09