Bread to go up to Rs. 60 a loaf ?

October 27, 2012, 8:22 pm
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Bakers belonging to the Association of Bakery Owners were scheduled to meet last night to discuss revision of the price of a loaf of bread but no formal announcement was expected until a gala event they have organized for this evening at Waters Edge, with several ministers expected to be present, is concluded.

It was speculated that the bread price may rise as high as Rs. 60 a loaf although this was unconfirmed.

Increase of the prices of bread and other flour based products was inevitable on the back of the increase in wheat flour prices by the two big millers. Prima had increased its price by Rs. 6 per kilo while the Serendib Mills has increased theirs by Rs. 4 per kg.

"We don’t want to burden the people, we feel it too", Anandaraja from Kotahena, told the Sunday Island yesterday. ``But what can we do with the flour price going up?’’

Mohan Das, a worker from New Colombo Bakers was disappointed "Everything is going up.. and it is the people who will suffer" he said.

Today an ordinary loaf of bread sells between Rs. 55 to Rs. 58, a roast paan at Rs. 35 and a fishbun at Rs. 35. Whilst there may be variations in certain instances this is only because of a shortage of coins said one trader.

``We have a huge issue when it comes to returning change and we price our products to take this into account.’’

``I sell at Rs. 55 although the price should be Rs. 58,’’ another baker said. ``That’s because of the difficulty of getting the necessary change.’’

Several traders hoped that the association will take this fact too into account when setting the new price. Traders today prefer to work in the multiples of Rs. 5 as against anything less due to the inconvenience of seeking coins of smaller denomination.

"People don’t like to carry coins because nothing can be purchased for Rs. 1 or Rs.2. They only serve the purpose of making exact payments. And we as traders cannot always carry enough change. It is a nuisance to both parties".

A consumer who spoke on condition of anonymity asked "Why should I carry coins when those coins have no real value? We should have one and two rupee notes," she suggested.

Source close to the the Bakery Owners Association however maintain that though they are expected to meet on Saturday night and arrive at a figure, it is likely that prices will only go up early next week.

``At the moment we are selling at the old price,’’ a baker said. In his case it was Rs. 56 a loaf.

It is very likely that prices of other flour based products, both sweet and savoury, will be rounded upwards.