Bakers threaten to raise price of 16-ounce sliced packed bread by 75 cents in two weeks

Published by [email protected] at December 4, 2023

Tags

Posted: Monday, December 4, 2023. 4:14 pm CST.

By Aaron Humes: The collective baking industry says it has decided that beginning exactly a week before Christmas, the 16-ounce pack of sliced bread will cost $2.25 wholesale and $2.50 retail, a planned increase of 75 cents.

The bakers say that since June they have been reaching out to the Ministry of Agriculture and Supplies Control Unit concerning the way forward, repeating those entreaties in September and October, with no success.

Their concerns remain the same and similar to other areas – increases in prices of raw ingredients from flour to yeast continue to increase and sugar, another price-controlled item, may do so; increases in prices for packaging materials from Mexico, butane and diesel to bake, package and distribute items; and increases in the minimum wage and Social Security contributions straining employer and causing high turnover in employment.

“We have been managing these challenges and absorbing these rising costs for years now, and it is only fair for the price of the 16 oz. pack bread to be adjusted to reflect the reality of our current situation. The present wholesale price for a 16 oz. packed bread has remained unchanged for the past 15 years ($1.50), and a price adjustment is urgently needed,” the bakers say while apologizing for any inconvenience caused.

The Ministry has previously offered subsidies in items used to make bread to bakeries but those have run out as of last December even as inflation continues due to international pressures.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Belize ~ We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages. Your content is delivered instantly to thousands of users in Belize and abroad! Contact us at mаrkеtіng@brеаkіngbеlіzеnеwѕ.соm or call us at 501-612-0315.