Dear Editor,
I have listened to various statements about rising food prices both internationally and locally and I believe that the Government now needs to issue licences for more persons to import flour especially.
Bakewell has issued a flier announcing significant increases in the prices of bread and flour products.
I recently read of the GRA’s dismay that the main flour company had decided for personal reasons to increase its flour prices by 16 % after the government zero-rated that item on March 1.
The increase by Bakewell, however, does not reflect a 16% increase in its prices but rather 20%. It’s as if VAT plus another 4 percent is now added to bread and tennis rolls.
I believe it’s time the government look at what effect the Namilco decision is having on bakeries and ultimately us consumers!
Yours faithfully,
R. Gomes
Editor’s note
We sent this letter to Bakewell for their comments and received the following response from the Chief Executive Officer Naeem Nasir:
“In reference to the letter sent to us asking for a response. Our answer is as follows, it takes a lot more than flour to produce quality bread and within the last three months we have had increases in cooking gas, shortening, electricity, diesel, emulsifier, spares for vehicles, plastic bags etc. Our selling price for bread is the same in Crabwood Creek as it is in Charity and it is no easy task to send product to these areas daily. And of course our employees will demand higher wages. We have explained these prices in detail with your reporter.”
