Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-08-29
National Kitchens
Sell Cheaper But
Realize Profits

kitchens and national restaurants es-
ta5lisned in England this year by the
British food ministry TO avert public
hardship and provide food at reason
able cost are underselling privately
| opera ted eating houses and still are
earning big profits. Meals in the res
taurants cost less than in the average
American eating place despite the fact
that England must import much Of its
| food and has undergone three more
years OF war.
The kitchens are to prepare food for
| householders and N few instances only
are arrangements made for consuming
| food on the premises. The restaurant
caters only 10 the latter. A good sub
stantial lunch can be obtained at the
restaurants for IS cents. according to
Phillip 3. Kennedy. commercial attache
! at London Of the bureau OF foreign and
domestic commerce.
! Food rationing has been established
successfully this year, Mr.. Kennedy in
! forms the bureau, but food regulations
resulted in hotel and restaurant owners
reducing the quantity and quality OF
food without any reduction in price. In
some instances prices were increased
| Seeing that this situation was likely
| to become an actual hardship the food
ministry took steps to assist the public
writes Nj Kennedy. The first action
was establishment Of national Kitchens
a thousand were established from Feb
ruary to August with only three Of four
under the direct nanag ement OF tho
| food ministry. the others being control
| led by local authorities. Necessary
capital may be obtained from the gov
eminent but return payment must be
made in ten years. The kitchens are
said to have helped materially IN re-
!ieving the food difficulties.
| 4 further step was necessary. Mr.
Kennedy reports. because hotel and
restaurant patrons found the food reg
ulations to be a hardship. AS an ex-
pertinent. the food ministry opened its
first national restaurant on June 20,
last near the newspa per district II
Fleet street and II has proved so sue
cessfUl that others are TO be opened in
London and other cities.
Ths original payment for rent and
equipment amounted TO sl2,ls0.'' writes
Mr.. Kennedy. The management Of the
restaurant Is IN the charge OF the d.
rector OF the national kitchens, who
hopes 10 be able to repay the original
treasury investment within year from
/ profits earned. There has been some
idea that this restaurant has been sub
sidized by the government, but the di-
rector declares that the food is pur-
chased in the open market in conpeti-
- 81 ~
advanced by the government Nill Dt
fully repaid.
IN this initial restaurant the staff
Inumber about thirty persons. Tne
Kitchen and dining room are very clear
and attractive and the service appear re
70 be very efficient. The system in
vogue !s what is sometimes known ir
the United States as the cafataria plan
the customers wait on themselves
The dining room has seating capacity
for 10 persons al one sitting. 1t j:
estimated that ABOUT 1899 meals are
se-ved from IL: 30 a n. TO S p. N. One
Of the most profitable features of the
restaurant is the serving of afternoon
tea. which has been very well patron
lied. The principle on which the res
taUrant is run is TO serve food which j:
most easily procurahle az the time. This
makes possible the serving of liberia
portions at reasonable prices. As ar
e d!cst!c- GO .he prices the fo!lo nj r 2
VIII give those in effect on July .. 1918:
Soup, . pence q portion; fish. 4 to
pence; roast meat, 4 TO s pence: two
meat entries, TO s pence: vegeta bles
2 pence portion: bread, one-halt
pence; sweets. 3 and 4 pence: coffee,
pence cup; tea, one pence a cup.
An arrangement has been worked
out whereby six vouchers will be ex
changed for one meat coupon, eacf
voucher emitting the holder to mea
meal Of not less than two ounces. II
this way it is possible to procure ST,
meat meals for one meat coupon. A
good substantial lunch can be produced
for a charge Of one shilling, six pence
approximately b cents)
The national restaurant Is yer.
popular with the shop workers, clerks
and business men in the Vicinity Q
. Fleet street, the Newspaper center o
London. = queue starts forming a hal
, hour before the doors open and 1t va
, | n ecessary TO rema in in line about forty
) five minutes before being served. Thi
, | is the only Inconvenience attached L
= the scheme and perhaps when NOR
restaurants are established this ma.
. Ibe overcome.
This first national restaurant ha