Argentina's small business crisis deepens as kiosks shut and restaurant waste fees rise

Since December 2023, more than 41,000 independent kiosks across Argentina have closed, a rate of about 50 closures per day that has cut the total from 100,000 to roughly 59,000 outlets. The Union of Kiosqueros de la República Argentina (UKRA) attributes the collapse to a sharp drop in consumer spending, soaring operating costs and competition from larger chains. Ernesto Acuña, UKRA vice‑president, noted a resurgence of credit‑card purchases and the informal "fiado" practice as cash dwindles.

In Buenos Aires, councilor Anahí Schibelbein has tabled a decree to address the high cost of differential waste‑collection services for gastronomic businesses larger than 85 m². Operators currently pay between 250,000 and 750,000 Argentine pesos per month for a service they deem disproportionate to the volume of waste removed. Schibelbein’s proposal seeks to allow municipalities to inform businesses of alternative options and to adjust fees based on actual waste generation, aiming to ease the financial strain on restaurants, bakeries and ice‑cream shops amid the broader economic downturn.