More than 100 takeaways and cafes have been forced to close throughout Northern Ireland since July.
In just three months, businesses have shut down and hundreds of people have lost jobs. The Director of the Northern Ireland Takeaway Association, Michael Henderson, has called for government support to keep food outlets afloat.
He said the losses have been down to a tidal wave of increased costs ranging from energy bills, food costs, VAT increases and reintroduction of the highest business rates in the UK.
