Popova A.D., MaslovskyM.O.

Problems of public catering in Soviet periodicals of the 1950s — 1970s and in readers’ letters. Pp. 35–46.

UDC 94(47).084.9:002(09)

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2025.88.3.004

 

Abstract. The article analyzes the Soviet public catering in the 1950–1970s. Based on archival material, publications in periodicals and letters from citizens to newspapers and administrative agencies, it highlights the main achievements and problems of this service sector. The article shows that the Soviet party leadership paid close attention to improvement of citizens’ life. An analysis of the everyday life of the Soviet population showed the drawbacks in organizing public catering in this period. The evolution of everyday life in the 1950–1970s shows the attempts to improve the work of the public catering: to expand the network of eating places and to create factory canteens. At the same time, the analysis of letters and appeals from citizens allows us to observe the inconsistency of this process and to highlight a number of typical shortcomings: low throughput, low quality of food, and even illegal sale of alcoholic beverages. We come to the conclusion that the problems of the development of the public catering system reflected of the general problems of everyday life and the Soviet economic system.

 

Keywords: catering establishments, canteen, buffet, public catering, self-service, range of dishes, service, food products, everyday life, everyday life, low throughput.

 

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