Rising food and fuel costs put pressure on Mobile catering businesses in early 2008, forcing one local team to reconsider its pricing and seek additional work.
Chris and Carla Miller said their overhead had increased by about 20 percent. Higher prices for basics such as butter and eggs affected the food they prepared, while fuel costs added to the expense of reaching catering jobs.
Price changes reached customers
The Millers said some additions that had previously been included in a per-person price now carried an extra charge. They described accepting more catering engagements as one way to offset the effect on their business.
University of South Alabama marketing department chairman Mohan Menon pointed to several factors behind rising prices, including a weaker dollar, consumer-price increases and demand for corn used in fuel production.
Historical business snapshot
This article records conditions described in March 2008 and does not state later price trends or the business’s subsequent operations.