Most bakeries sticking to old prices

PETALING JAYA: The price of at least one brand of bread has gone up while several other bakeries said they would “wait and see” before making any decision.

Checks around shops in the Klang Valley revealed that the price of Gardenia bread had gone up by 20 sen. The white sandwich loaf used to cost RM2, but is now retailing at RM2.20.

The prices of other brands of bread have remained the same.

On Dec 31, the Government announced that the subsidy for white bread was being removed. It also announced that the price of sugar was up by 20 sen a kg.

In Penang, several bakeries said they would wait and see before making any decision on the retail prices.

Maliia Bakery director Siti Suhailla Mohd Yusoff said the bakery planned to maintain its retail price of RM1.70 for the 420g sandwich loaf over the next few months.

She added that the retail price would be increased to RM1.90 once the bakery’s two other main competitors agreed to the hike.

“From our previous experience, too sudden a price hike will affect our sales,” she said.

She added that the bakery would maintain its retail price until it came up with a new packaging to increase the 420g sandwich loaf to 450g.

Patchee Bakery Sdn Bhd managing director Syed Saahil Saif also said the bakery would hold back any price hike.

He said the bakery was using ingredients from old stockpiles.

“These could last for at least a month,” he said.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mohd Zain Mohd Dom had announced the withdrawal of subsidy on white bread (effective yesterday) and removed it from the price control list.

Deputy Domestic Trade, Coopera-tive and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said there was no necessity for the price of bread to be increased by between 20 sen and 30 sen.

“After the subsidy removal for bread, 1kg of bread will only cost an extra 20 sen. If 1kg of bread cost an extra 20 sen, how can one loaf of bread cost 20 sen more? It is unfair and definitely not a reason for traders to increase the price of bread.”

Traders, she said, should not take the opportunity to increase prices.

“They must practise corporate social responsibility. We hope consumers will also execute their power in hand as there are many brands in the market,” she added.

Tan also urged traders to cooperate with the Government and use less sugar in their products in line with its healthy lifestyle campaign.