Lasha Mamageishvili, founder of the restaurant “Kneina,” told BM.GE that constantly rising prices of basic ingredients are forcing the restaurant to adjust its menu regularly. He noted that the only way to reduce prices would be if the cost of raw materials decreased, but meat and vegetables, the main pressure points, have been rising steadily over the past three years.
“We update our menu every six months, and often, we cannot adjust prices immediately. When we opened three years ago, basic products like meat and dairy were much cheaper. For example, soft cheese cost 19 GEL, and now it costs 33 GEL. And the prices are expected to continue rising,” Mamageishvili explained.
He added that dairy products, especially imported items like butter, yogurt, and cream, have seen significant increases. Prices for vegetables like carrots, beets, and onions have risen only slightly, but key items such as cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers, along with meat and dairy, are the main drivers of menu price adjustments.
According to TBC Capital, in February 2026, non-cash spending at restaurants through TBC Bank increased by 34% year-on-year, with the average transaction reaching 36 GEL, reflecting both rising costs and customer spending patterns.
