Wave of closures hits food service sector

The first big wave of food service business shutdowns has struck the market, as the sector has remained mostly inactive since early November and its return to action is not anticipated anytime soon.

In areas such as Kolonaki and Gazi in Athens, the center of Thessaloniki, and even tourism destinations such as Rhodes, many food service enterprises have already given up waiting and shut down for good.

Any prospects of a swift reopening of the sector were banished by the prime minister himself yesterday in Parliament, while the sector's entrepreneurs have made it clear to the government that resuming their operation outdoors only is not sustainable. The mere fact that their representatives have set their next appointment with the development minister in the first 10 days of next month shows no news should be expected on that front over the next three weeks.