Bakers appeal to public over bread price hike

 Mr Jacob Adejorin, the  President of Lagos State Chapter of Association of Master Bakers and Caterers, on Monday appealed to the public over the hike in  the price of bread.

Adejorin said in Lagos that the increase was unavoidable because bakers could no longer run the business at a loss.

He said that ingredients used in the production of bread had become too expensive for bakers to afford.

 Adejorin said that a bag of wheat was now being sold for N7,100 against the previous price of N5,750, while a bag of sugar was now N9,000 from N5,000.

‘‘It is not our desire to make life uncomfortable for members of the public. We have seriously considered them before increasing the price of our products.

‘‘We have been running the business at a loss due to the increase in the price of wheat, butter and sugar.

‘‘Many of our members have gone out of business. Some of them have been forced to return to their villages, while others have taken to other businesses,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Mr John Talabi, a baker and bread vendor, told NAN that sales had dropped due to the price hike.

Talabi, the Manager of Mainstream Bakery in Ojuelegba, Lagos, said that consumers were yet to adapt to the new price.

‘‘We are recording very low sales since the prices were hiked.

“Many people don’t want to understand why the price was increased. Once you tell them the new price, they will just walk away,’’ Talabi said.

He said that bakers were producing small quantities until members of the public would adapt to the price increase.

Mrs Eniola  Adeagbo, a bread vendor, said that a loaf of Val-U bread and UTC  bread, which were sold for N180, were now sold for N220.

Adeagbo said that the N100 and N120 loaves were now now N120 and N150 respectively, while the N150 loaf was now sold for N200. (NAN)