A Silent Profitability Crisis in the Food and Beverage Industry

Contrary to what rising menu prices might suggest, Türkiye's food and beverage sector is experiencing one of the deepest and quietest profitability crises in its history. NarPOS Data shared by the sector shows that 4 out of every 10 businesses established in the sector close down before completing their first 6 months. The main reason behind this striking picture is the profit margins that are rapidly eroding due to rising costs. The profitability level of the sector has decreased significantly compared to a few years ago; margins are stuck at low levels in many businesses.

The consumer is paying the middleman, not the food.

At the root of the crisis that is pushing restaurants' profit margins to the brink of survival lies the high commission rates and long payment terms imposed by marketplaces, food card companies, and banks. Commission rates and collection periods can vary depending on the channel and contract terms. Businesses in the sector pay up to 45% of their sales in commissions, while having to wait between 10 and 45 days for collections.

This cost spiral gripping the food and beverage sector in Türkiye affects not only business owners but also consumers directly. Behind the constantly rising menu prices lies not only food inflation but also other factors. vehicle inflation This is also the case here. Businesses are reflecting this cost in their menus in order to cover the high commission burden.

Today, consumers are paying a significant portion of their restaurant bill not for the quality of the food on their plate or the service, but for the system and intermediaries that deliver the food to them. This structure, which dissatisfies both businesses and consumers, stands out as one of the most important factors causing new players entering the sector to close down.

'NarPOS Model' Against Commission and Payment Term Pressure

NarPOS is pursuing a strategy that combines the worlds of finance and technology to rescue the food and beverage sector from the current cost constraints. Through collaborations with established institutions like Halkbank and Şekerbank, as well as agile players in the fintech ecosystem, the company is reducing the commission burden on businesses and bringing it to sustainable levels. Special discounts applied exclusively to NarPOS member businesses contribute to improved profitability. The company plans to further increase its impact on business profitability by launching its new solution, NarPay, in 2026.

Another critical pillar of this strategy is enabling restaurants to achieve digital independence. NarPOS eliminates one of the biggest cost constraints by providing businesses with the technological infrastructure to take orders directly through their own websites and mobile applications, without forcing them to rely on high-commission marketplaces and food vouchers.

The 'NarPOS Model' has already generated millions of liras in savings for businesses in the field. By making the billing system, one of the biggest expenses for businesses in the digitalization process, completely free, the company has enabled businesses to save a total of 35 million TL in just three months.

NarPOS Founding Partner and CEO İlyas Akça, in his statement on the subject, drew attention to striking data that reveals the state of the sector: “Today, contrary to what is believed from the outside, the food and beverage sector is struggling to survive. The data we have shows that just 6-7 years ago, profit margins in the sector could reach 60 percent, but today this rate has fallen to 10 percent. Commissions and long collection periods are straining profitability and cash flow; this pressure is also reflected in menu prices.”

Akça stated that NarPOS has created a significant improvement in profitability by reducing commission and collection difficulties, and continued: “With the NarPOS system, we can reduce intermediary costs and lower menu prices by 10 percent, while increasing the profit margin of tradespeople by up to 30 percent. In 2026, we will also implement our NarPay solution to further alleviate this cost squeeze and give tradespeople some breathing room. We will continue to improve the profit margin of the sector and contribute to changing this picture.”

Kaynak: HORECA TREND and NarPOS