This year's subsidy for milk bars will amount to PLN 61.4 million. This is PLN 10 million less than last year and the first time in years that the subsidy is decreasing instead of increasing – “Fakt” enumerates. Nevertheless, it should be noted that there is something to cut back on – in last year's budget, the one-off subsidy was basically doubled.
The grants in particular years were as follows:
- 2019 – PLN 19 million 500 thousand zloty,
- 2020 – PLN 21 million,
- 2021 – 20 million 190 thousand zloty,
- 2022 – 20 million 265 thousand zloty,
- 2023 – PLN 34 million 399 thousand zloty,
- 2024 – 71 million 328 thousand zloty.
So you can see that although the amount for milk bars in the budget for next year is lower than now, it is still almost twice as high as during the last year when the government was in power. PIS. At the same time, however, there is a reduction in the forecast inflation at the level of 5 percent may raise concerns.
Milk bars will receive less funding. The Ministry of Finance explains the reason
As the Ministry of Finance informed “Fakt”, the subsidy amount for 2025 was estimated based on the demand for subsidies for milk bars reported by the Tax Administration Chamber. Ministry in response to questions newspapers reported that it does not plan any changes in the near future regarding the extension of the possibility of using subsidies for meals sold in milk bars.
Such an inquiry was sent to the ministry due to the poor situation of milk bars. As Kamil Hagemajer, one of the owners of a network of such premises in Warsaw, noted, some bars may not be covered by state aid because the request for subsidy is submitted several months in advance. And this is a problem for milk bars that are just opening.
Difficult times for milk bars
– We notice that more difficult times are beginning for the catering industry. People eat out less often and save money, Kamil Hagemajer told “Fakt”. The problems of milk bars have been talked about for a long time. In March, Radio Zet reported that their source was... budget subsidies. Specifically, how the funding rules are structured.
– When it comes to fritters, for example, there is no subsidy for yeast, so there is no subsidy for the entire dish. For example, in the case of pork chops, the subsidy applies only to the breading, not the meat, and there was a time when you couldn't salt and pepper dishes because spices were not subsidized – said Hanna Król-Rączka from the Społem cooperative. “Due to these complex and changing regulations, many milk bars give up subsidies and ultimately go bankrupt on the free market,” Radio ZET concluded.