Rache, coffee shops typically buy just about everything in pre made, including the likes of their range of tosties. Restaurants on the other hand make most of which they sell, although they are tending to buy in the likes of sauces and deserts, simply due to wage costs.

As for the Us system (tips) some of these staff make a very good living simply because they are so good at their job. I think you will find the min wage has increased as well.

My wife went to a bar in the US a while ago and could not believe the service.

The customers would place their money on the bar, $300 was the norm, and the women at the bar would pour their first round of say 5 drinks. These very experienced women would never ask what they were drinking again unless there was a change, and the got it right every time. What ever money was left at the end of the night, they kept. What a wonderful system. Whereas back here most don't even know what goes into a cocktail, or what the days specials are, and given they get paid the same as top staff, the top staff usually under perform, and who can blame them.

Here, people get paid for how long it takes to do something, rather than what they can achieve and if you dare sack them, you are in for a hell of a ride. To the point where many bosses just fall over and keep the useless staff.

What AU needs is stimulation not cuts and downtrodden workers. The less you earn the less you buy. There is nothing new in that.

It's a ferret chasing a rabbit down a burrow, but never blocked the other end.