On Taco Day, inflation ‘devours’ Mexican taquerias

The high inflation rates that have been present in Mexico for more than a year have been gradually “eating” the taco shops in the capital, where some are debating this Taco Day between increasing prices or facing the abyss of closing .

In the taco shops that abound in the streets surrounding the SCOP roundabout, one of the best-known in Mexico City, located in the Narvarte neighborhood (neighborhood), taco makers consulted by EFE on the occasion of Taco Day, which is celebrated this Friday, They assured that inflation has affected the entire taquera chain.

The increase in the prices of raw materials affects the stalls and the countless diners who every day, at any time, put the most representative dish of Mexican gastronomy in their mouths.

“Yes, (inflation) has affected us a lot, starting with (the price) that the breeders of the animals give us, the price of meat went up a lot”, explained Vicente Gutiérrez, manager of a stall in the tianguis (market) on Tajín street.

Gutiérrez works the barbecue taco (meat cooked by steam and in its juice) and assured that now he pays 60% more for the raw material. “The ram is the most expensive thing there is“, said.

Like him, it has happened to other taco makers in the area who have been forced to raise their prices to 10 pesos (0.55 dollars), lose customers and, in some cases, register economic losses that put their continuity at risk.

“We no longer have the same clientele and obviously we reflect this in sales, which have dropped a lot.”, lamented Federico Garnica, who runs the Los Primos taco shop and who used to work a couple of places away, in El Joven, specializing in basket tacos.

In the first half of March, inflation in Mexico closed at 7.12%, but the problem comes from behind: last August, the country registered its highest inflation rate of the century, 8.7%.

According to the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi), the annual variation rate of the price of corn tortillas stands at 14.3%, beans at 12.73% and meats such as beef or chicken at 4% and a 4.9%, respectively.

The interviewees also resented the increase in the cost of vegetables, lemon or cheese, equally important for the taco.

“I have seen businesses fail”

This delicate situation, which affects a large part of the world economies, leaves neighborhood taco shops and street stalls in Mexico hanging by a thread, which depend on their daily sales to survive.

“I have seen businesses fall, according to increases in both food products and rents. The increase (in prices) is so much that the business can no longer be subsidized”, Garnica explained.

While Gutiérrez, without going to the extreme of closing, is one of those who has experienced it firsthand.

“(Inflation) causes losses and unemployment, we have put several people (three) out of work. We are currently five (employees) and we are family”, he commented.

Tradition before inflation

Despite everything, at 2:00 p.m., an appointment in which millions of Mexicans take the opportunity to go out to eat and then return to work, the Gutiérrez taco stand and all the surrounding ones are overflowing with customers.

The custom of having this traditional dish for lunch, for those interviewed, has more weight than the increase in prices.

“Yes, it has affected a little (inflation), because they have risen a little (prices), but it is not so much that you stop consuming. Here it is consumed almost daily”, declared Víctor Hugo Martínez, while he brought some tacos to eat at his workplace.

Mónica Flores, sitting on the terrace of the Hayito Arab taco shop, denied that inflation has changed her consumption habits.

“After all, I’m Mexican and I like tacos.“, said.

The local barbecue, Alberto Morales, agreed: “In Mexico people are very taco. If you are going to eat tacos, if you like them, then you pay for them”.

For others, tacos are as gastronomic as they are a social event.

“Most of us work and bring your food and be in the office eating sadly, alone, like you don’t know it. You need to have the vibe of the people, the noise. You meet a lot of people, sometimes you even find a partner in one of these street marketsJaime Reyes said with a smile.

Source: EFE