Councils must do more to protect independents from chains

A restaurant owner has called on local councils to do more to protect independents after he was forced out of business by chain restaurants he accuses of operating at a loss.

Dino Aristotelous had run Dino's on Bishopgate in Leeds for more than 20 years but was forced to throw in the towel and lay off 30 staff due to increased competition and the chains' willingness to take short-term hits for mid-term pay offs.

Aristotelous said: "We are all very upset about the whole situation and my staff are devastated."

"The problem is that the number of new places to eat in the city centre has increased an unbelievable amount in the past 10 years. When's it going to stop? When all the private firms say goodbye?"

Aristotelous wants local councils to do more to support independent restaurateurs from extremely competitive multi-national chains, which have far greater buying power and can afford to take a short-term hit to put local rivals out of business.

Has your business been affected by the rise of the multi-national chain? Tell us here.](http://caterersearchccpadminlive.rbi.web.internal/editor/href="mailto:feedback@caterersearch.com?subject=Councils must do more to protect independents from chains)

Scotland smoking ban leads to 25 hospitality closures in first quarter >>

Personal debt hits travel and hospitality workers >>

Chefs defend pricing strategies of restaurants >>

By Andrew Smith

E-mail your comments to [Andrew Smith](mailto:chris.druce@rbi.co.uk?subject=Councils must do more to protect independents) here.