‘I NEVER PUT ON’
By Elmo Leonard Bakers are biding their time for the price of LP gas to be increased shortly by around Rs 200 per 12.5 kilo cylinder to raise the price of tea buns, fish buns, fish rolls and all other bakery products.
When bread went up Rs 5 per 450 gram loaf midnight Friday last, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) advised bakers to increase the prices of buns and other flour-based pastries only if they are faced with a loss, President ACBOA, N.K. Jayawardena said.
When bread went up Rs 5 per 450 gram loaf midnight Friday last, the All Ceylon Bakery Owners’ Association (ACBOA) advised bakers to increase the prices of buns and other flour-based pastries only if they are faced with a loss, President ACBOA, N.K. Jayawardena said.
Over the years, when the price of bread is increased, bakers or confectioners wait a few weeks before they raise the price of buns, fish buns, rolls and like products.
Our survey also revealed Saturday that the price of fish rolls went up in Colombo by Rs 5.
Bread sold in Colombo yesterday at Rs 53 to Rs 55 per loaf of 450 grams. But weight was often short of the stipulated weight.
A loaf bread that is sliced and wrapped (sandwich loaf) could cost more.
ACBOA increased the price of bread on the grounds of the recent hike in fuel, and as margarine and yeast used in making confectionary products had gone up as well.
There is no controlled price for buns, fish buns and Chinese rolls. An up-market seller in Colombo could be Perera & Sons. A middle market distributor in Colombo could be Little Lion and Mihiri. At the lower end are many small time bakers and cottage industrialists. There was no sign Saturday of an overall increase in the price of bakery products other than that of bread. In the coming weeks, one could expect all bakery products, plus kottu, string hoppers and hoppers to increase in price.
