2023-07-18 04:38:42
The seasonal refreshment bars now have a storefront. On the shores of Lake Geneva, the associations or actors at the head of these establishments do not hide the financial interest of such an activity, specifying that it nevertheless remains largely dependent on the weather.
For ten years now on the banks of the Vidy in Lausanne, the Jetée de la Compagnie has been taken by storm, and not just at aperitif time.
This seasonal refreshment bar, a pioneer of its kind in Vaud, is such a hit that it would easily reach one and a half million in turnover in less than six months of activity. According to information from the RTS, up to 25,000 francs are even spent there daily on very busy days. By way of comparison, very few restaurants and other permanent bistros achieve such a result in Switzerland.
“It’s very interesting, you shouldn’t hide it all the same”, slips Lucas Girardet, co-founder of the Jetée de la Compagnie. “We have a few cold sweats when we have to spend the winter and we have big bills that are still to be paid. But overall, we know that things are going well, we manage to invest, to improve the work tool”, details the one who is also a member of the I lake Lausanne association.
Thriving business model
A dozen summer bars now share the Vaudois shores of Lake Geneva. These rely in particular on temporary staff partly on call and less heavy loads than those of an establishment open all year round. A flourishing business model and a coveted activity, to the point that the allocation of these places sometimes causes a stir.
>> Read also: The “La Crique” summer bar project abandoned in Morges
In Lausanne, behind the flagship of the Jetée de la Compagnie and its neighbor the Minimum, three new boats anchored last year, following a call for tenders from the city.
Among them, “Côté Lac”, on the quays of Ouchy. Its manager has invested around 100,000 francs for the construction of a wooden cabin and the development of its terrace.
Does he, who also manages La Générale in Pully, consider that the refreshment bars are a gold mine? “Yes, we can say that we make money, but we do the accounts at the end”. Antoine Piguet remains evasive on the financial objective and wishes to recall: “We are also dependent on the weather. Unlike a standard public establishment, if there is the slightest drop of rain, we have no one left. So it’s a bit of a lottery.”
Turnover levy
The owners of these new bars are also required to give way following five years of activity. Another condition imposed by the city of Lausanne (also applied to Morges and Vevey): rather than a fixed rent, an amount is levied on the annual turnover, of 3% from 550,000 francs, and 1% additional per tranche of 100,000 francs, up to a maximum of 10%.
“It would be quite unfair compared to other restaurateurs, if we did not charge an amount for this increased use of the public domain”, justifies Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand, Lausanne municipal official.
Without taking any real risk, the city thus pockets several tens of thousands of francs thanks to the seasonal refreshments, the activity of which seems to be decidedly making only winners.
Yoan Rithner/melb
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