Cafes, McDonalds raise prices for Passover

Changing over to the Passover dietary requirements offers cafes and restaurants an opportunity to put up prices.

By MICHAL RAZ-CHAIMOVITCH
Mcdonald's 521 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Mcdonald's 521
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Consumers are reporting that cafes and fast food chains have hiked prices for the Passover holiday. One worker who frequents a branch of Café Café near her office building said that she is now being charged NIS 15 for a cup of café au lait, which normally costs NIS 13. A large coffee, which normally costs NIS 16 has been put up to NIS 18. This is more than a 10% rise, even though a cup of coffee has no different ingredients for the Passover holiday.
Nor is Café Café alone. Changing over to the Passover dietary requirements offers cafes and restaurants an opportunity to put up prices. McDonalds, for example, usually charges NIS 27 for a children’s meal. During Passover it costs NIS 38, albeit that the patties are a bit bigger.
In café chains Aroma, Roladin and Café Greg kosher for Passover foods are more expensive than year-round fare but at least the coffee is the same price.
In response Café Café said, “During Passover there are one-time price rises of 5- 10% as a result of kosher for Passover products and everything surrounding it [different cups, plates and silverware for Passover]. The menu offered during the holiday is relevant only for Passover and afterwards the regular menu is restored.”
McDonalds said, “During Passover the chain conducts itself in a unique way. Forty percent of branches are strictly kosher [lemehadrin] and offer unique products for the holiday such as rolls made from matzo meal. In the other outlets regular products are sold at regular prices.
“The Passover rolls are baked by an external supplier and are larger than the regular rolls for children’s meals so that the patties are enlarged accordingly. Kosher nuggets for the holiday are also different and there are higher costs for us, so the consumer pays more.”