2024-02-02 20:12:22
Online restaurant reservation platform TheFork has gained popularity in recent years. Its advantages? Ease of use, promotions in certain establishments and discovery suggestions. However, it makes some restaurateurs complain because of the taxes levied.
Noon. For Anaïs, it’s time to eat, but also to get a good deal: by reserving a table via the app, she gets 30% off the menu.
“It’s not the promotions that will really target my choice,” she emphasizes in the 7:30 p.m. “But for example, for a new establishment in Lausanne that I don’t necessarily know, I think it’s nice to discover it with a promotion,” explains the young woman.
Like Anaïs, half of the customers of the Lily restaurant dined this followingnoon through TheFork.
“We put ourselves on TheFork regarding a month ago for reasons of visibility and customers, to try to capture more customers and also to fill in some slack hours, especially at lunchtime during the week,” explains Marie. -Lys Perrier-Bizeau, the manager of the brand.
A criticized cost
This visibility comes at a certain cost. At the Lily restaurant, the daily special with starter sells for 20.5 francs. But if the customer goes through TheFork, a commission of 3 francs is charged. And you also have to take into account the 30% discount. The plate will therefore bring in 11.35 francs.
In Geneva, Philippe Rielle, the director of the restaurant La Fabrique, serves his customers with a smile. But when we talk regarding the reservation platform, even if he uses it, it’s rather grimacing.
“The solution is not profitable for a restaurateur, because, the margins being quite low, these are costs at the end of the month which do not allow other bills to be paid,” he analyzes.
Highlighting brands
But TheFork, whose headquarters is in Paris, defends its prices, presenting itself as an important showcase.
“For restaurateurs, we are a marketing agency that allows them to maximize their occupancy rate. And above all to encourage guests to book at the restaurant. We fight every day to ensure that as many guests as possible go out and visit. at the restaurant and have the best time of the day”, argues Damien Rodière, general manager of TheFork for Western Europe.
More and more customers are booking with the app. In Switzerland, more than 1,300 restaurants have adopted TheFork.
Emilien Verdon/friend
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