| > I'm pretty sure that once people are used to budgeting a larger share of their income on food... I think you're wrong starting here. People aren't used to budgeting a larger share of their income on food. They're blowing their budgets, and it's going to stop fairly soon, because they can't actually afford it. > processed food companies and their retailers will happily soak up whatever gets trimmed from restaurant spending. If consumers let them, yes. If I'm right (and the GP), consumers won't let them. > There might be a net savings for those early to transition, but if it becomes a cultural trend, supermarket prices will just creep up to match the customary food budget. This assumes that there's no competition in supermarkets, and that they are free to raise their prices independently of their costs. > Restaurants may lose, but food manufacturers and supermarkets will likely claw back the difference before they let it go back to families. This assumes the same. And, "before they let it go"? You have a very exaggerated sense of how much power and control they have. |