Time for St. Louis Blues Hockey Night
Welcome again to another Al’s Corner, this time for March 2024.
First, I would like to throw a shout out to a regular reader on this letter:
John R. Koch, Director-Midwest Region, Trade Risk Group – 540 Lexington Landing Dr., St. Charles, MO 63303 901-219-1185 www.traderiskgroup.com
I love to promote anyone who reads this or tells me or The STL Transportation Club, how they like it! So, thanks John, I hope you like this note, you should because you are the star of this month’s note!
As the heading says above it is time for The St. Louis Transportation Clubs Annual Blues Hockey Night on March 28th. At this time, I believe it is sold out, but if you are interested, please contact Brad Reinhardt to see if he can squeeze you in. I would think you could just attend Happy Hour as I do not think it is capped.
This year the March 28th date provides an interesting combo of the STL Cardinals also start their season in Los Angeles late in the afternoon. Should be a blast as we start out at the Wheelhouse for a Happy Hour to watch the Cards game at 3pm before we head to the Blues game.
Transportation Highlights, or Low Lights—it appears that on the logistics and trucking side major layoffs are taking place. More on that in the next few months.
Terrible pricing for consumers is starting to get noticed in the national media. Restaurants, many in the fast-food industry, are being spotlighted as they continue to increase their prices to their customers. Some chains are thinking about using peak times during the day to raise prices. Hamburgers for $12-18 with small fries and a drink is a regular thing now. They blame higher labor costs mostly, or on high costs for freight, but I question that. Many fast-food restaurants have reduced labor using App’s and order kiosks and are way more efficient than it was years ago. Freight rates are down.
I was a restaurant manager years ago, here is what I am certain about. Soda (which, as a world we are getting really gauged on) has little cost. They blame the packaging, doubtful. Here are my estimated costs to make the meal:
lid and cup costs .25
soda .15
bun .25
hamburger $1.10
condiments .20
Total–$2.00
Labor $1? I would think less.
Advertising and building costs adds more. But volume buying would reduce costs also.
Fun Thought—I met a man a few weeks ago and he said the price of a 6 pack of beer mirrors the lowest of minimum wage at $8. A 12 pack the high end of minimum wage $12-14.
Have a great month, AL