The Kitchen Croxley owner's 'rant' amid rising costs

Linda Anderson said she was prompted to make the blog post after seeing other small businesses forced to close after not getting enough support.

The co-owner of The Kitchen Croxley, in Croxley Green, explained that because The Kitchen has “a bit of a following” online, she wanted to help make people aware of the struggles all small businesses are facing.

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“It’s very easy to give the wrong impression,” she said.

“Sometimes we are packed, and people are having a lovely time and people say to me ‘you are doing so well’, and we are, but we aren’t turning a profit because out costs are so high.”

The Kitchen Croxley's social media pages thanked customers for sharing the "rant" and helping it "take off" online, which led other businesses owners the post resonated with to get in touch.

The blog post said: “Business is notoriously unpredictable at the best of times, even more so at the moment.

Linda Anderson (Image: The Kitchen Croxley)

“Talking to other small business owners it’s apparent that these are the worst of times.

“Many are teetering on the edge with the perfect storm of fuel price increases, the rise in the cost of ingredients, and the cost-of-living crisis wiping out most if not all of their profit.”

• Read the full blog post here

She explained the measures The Kitchen had taken to get through the pandemic and beyond but added “the current challenges are, however, in a league of their own”, pointing to a 30% increase in the cost of ingredients and a "quadrupling" of energy prices.

Adding that she "didn’t even want to consider" the possibility of becoming unable to keep running the business, Linda said: “I don’t have an easy answer and I am not looking for sympathy or asking you to spend more money.

“My sadness, and anger, is directed towards those in positions of power, with wealth beyond our imaginations, who are content to let others struggle whilst they go about their business untouched by what is happening in this country.”

South West Hertfordshire MP Gagan Mohindra raised some of Linda’s points in Parliament in April.

Minister for Energy Consumers & Affordability Amanda Solloway responded by highlighting support such as the Energy Bills Discount available for businesses.