Latest features Feeling the food pinch

How it's affecting Britain's chefs

Date Published:

23/06/2008

4Food spoke to shoppers across the country to find out how they are coping with rising food prices

There is no escaping the fact that food prices are rising. Retail analysts, Verdict, estimate that the cost of a basic food shop has risen by almost six per cent so far this year while the price of wheat has doubled. Rising inflation, tightened trade controls and the soaring cost of fuel has pushed the price of basic of staples towards their upper limits and caused the nation to tighten its collective belt.

In a food climate that celebrates the art of the small producer and values high quality, food production, where does this leave the consumer? The analysts predict that industries producing organic and fairly traded food stuffs will be the first to suffer as shoppers struggle to make ethical ends meet, however fundamental foodstuffs like bread and milk are also rising in price. So how are shoppers coping with the strain on their shopping baskets and is their anything the supermarkets can do to help out?

Weekly shopping budget: £200 - £250 to feed a family of seven

Have you noticed a pinch in what you can get for your money since the recent credit crunch?

Yes, mostly when popping out for items. I was making pancakes this morning and sent one of the children to the corner shop with £1 to pick up a packet of butter but it had gone up to £1.50. You expect a degree of a mark-up on things you buy from the corner shop but the mark up on top of the price hike from the credit crunch is really noticeable. We've seen it in the supermarkets too – a few weeks ago a two litre bottle of milk was just over £1, this weekend it had gone up to £1.40.

How do you plan to make savings in your shopping basket to cope with the rise in food prices?

Well we won't be shopping at the corner shop any more, that's for sure! I think we're going to have to be more canny with weekly shopping and not rely on shopping on the fly as much as we used to. It might also be time to make the most of 'buy one get one free' offers and I imagine these might start to direct what we buy week on week. If we cut back on things it will be luxury products, so chocolate, sweets, alcohol. The pinch is probably not a bad thing for the health.

What could supermarkets, shop owners and the government do to help ease the burden of rising prices?

We've been so used to having access to whatever foods we want all year round but I imagine that getting back in tune with what's in season will help economically. The problem is, we've either lost touch, or never learnt, what's in season so that could be an area that is promoted more. Also knowing what to do with foods that are in season; when parsnips are in season we know that roast parsnips are great but you can't eat roast parsnips for three months so it would be good if products came with several recipes on the packaging.

Weekly food budget: about £30 to feed one

Have you noticed a pinch in what you can get for your money since the recent credit crunch?

All my food and bills seem to have gone up. I've noticed it in basic stuff, fruit and veg. I went to buy some grapes the other day and they were really pricey. Also, I've noticed milk has gone up, which isn't good. I don't want to be having black tea!

How do you plan to make savings in your shopping basket to cope with the rise in food prices?

I guess I'll be cutting down to staples. I like a piece of fresh salmon but I might have to cut back on that for a while. I'll also be shopping around the supermarket for the cheapest options, looking for the best value. I'm lucky that I've got the time to do that but working people won't be able to. I worry about what it'll mean for my family who don't have the luxury of time.

Weekly food budget: £100 to feed three

Have you noticed a pinch in what you can get for your money since the recent credit crunch?

I've noticed it in basic stuff like milk, bread and eggs and it's been increasing everywhere. Local shops and the supermarket; but I have my vegetables delivered in an organic box from local farms and that hasn't gone up as yet. I always buy free range eggs and I've noticed the price of those has gone up a lot. Not long ago I was paying £1.20 for six, now that's jumped to£1.33.

How do you plan to make savings in your shopping basket to cope with the rise in food prices?

I've started to plan my menus every week. We have a 'what's for tea' board and I've also been more careful about only buying what we need, not buying as much. I've been deliberately looking at what's in season, doing some research on the internet and I've gone for those offers in supermarkets where they're making certain vegetables cheaper every week.

What could supermarkets, shop owners and the government do to help ease the burden of rising prices?

I only buy for two or three people and supermarkets don't have very good offers for smaller amounts. Maybe shops could look at the amounts of foods they are serving and the offers they have on smaller amounts. Also in the way they have weekly offers for vegetables and luxury goods, having those for more staple products. Bread has gone up colossally as have eggs, so it would be good to see offers on those things that everybody needs to buy.

Weekly food budget: about £15 to feed one

Have you noticed a pinch in what you can get for your money since the recent credit crunch?

A little bit but not massively and on anything specific. It's mostly when I get to the till I find things are a lot more than I was expecting.

How do you plan to make savings in your shopping basket to cope with the rise in food prices?

I'll tend to stick to own brand stuff, buy the supermarket's brand rather than named products. Also taking advantage of special offers and buying in bulk.

What could supermarkets, shop owners and the government do to help ease the burden of rising prices?

In Leeds, there are so many students and the supermarkets must get so much custom from them it would be good to get some special offers specifically targeted at our social group.

To find out more about the issue of food prices and its effect on shoppers and producers, catch up on Dispatches: the truth about food prices.