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Hike in price of bakery products hard to swallow
View(s):Angry consumers say that the increase in the price of bakery products is disproportionate to the recent hike in the price of flour, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of consumers.
The price of flour went up by five rupees this week, and bakery owners were quick to increase the prices of their products–including bread that went up by five rupees (for a 450g loaf). The prices of short eats including egg buns, rolls, patties and pastries, too, have gone up by five to ten rupees.
T.Ramesh, a labourer at a worksite close to Slave Island, said, that he finds it difficult to live in Colombo due to the increasing cost of living. He complained that although a loaf of bread had gone up to Rs 65 its size had shrunk, and one loaf was barely enough for one person.
“I now buy packets of rice for all three meals since I can’t afford brakery products.
“I only earn Rs 40,000 and I can’t be spending Rs 15, 000 on food alone. With the remaining Rs. 25,000 I have to pay my rent and bills as well as send money to my wife and children who are back home in Nuwara Eliya,” he said.
Meanwhile, a farmer from Anuradhapura, Mohamad Salahudeen who had travelled to Colombo said that he can’t afford to buy short eats as they were too expensive.
“I thought at least I could have some tea with some buns, but a bun is around Rs. 45 to 50 which is almost the price of a loaf of bread,” he said.
Kadiravelu Kadireshan, a 63-year-old labourer who is also working at a high-rise building construction site, said that he is forced to work at his age even though his sons are also employed.
Kadiravelu Kadireshan
Arumugam Nataraja. Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
He said that he, too, refrains from eating from pastry shops as it was too expensive.
However, bakers and eatery owners say they are experiencing a drop in customers and are facing losses.
They justified their increase as the prices of eggs, butter and other ingredients had increased with the rise in fuel prices.
Arumugam Nataraja said he increased the price of bread to Rs 65 and didn’t increase the prices of short eats.
He said since they sell short eats to canteens they can only charge Rs 35 for a roll and Rs. 25 a tea bun as canteen operators would be reluctant to buy their products if they increaed prices.
Meanwhile Mohamad Zarook, a canteen owner who said he barely makes a profit selling vegetable rotties, paratas, egg rotis and kottu said he could not decrease the size of his eatables as customers would stop coming to his shop.
T.Ramesh
Mohamad Salahudeen
Meanwhile, Bakery Owners Association president N.K Jayawardena said that they only announced an increase in the price of a loaf of bread by five rupees. He said since they had earlier increased thw price of other bakery products by Rs 5 they didn’t further increase their prices.
“There is no price control on bakery products therefore the bakers can cover their costs as they please,” he said.