‘Burgerflation’ pushes up barbecue costs as food prices continue to rise
The cost of making burgers has continued to rise, with higher prices for beef, burger buns and salad ingredients adding to supermarket bills, while farmers and food producers say t
By BBC News
Families planning summer barbecues are facing higher costs as the price of several popular burger ingredients continues to increase, according to the latest inflation data.
Figures from the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) show that the cost of beef, burger buns and pre-packaged salad has risen over the past year, prompting commentators to describe the trend as “burgerflation”.
Despite shoppers paying more at the checkout, many farmers and food producers say they are not benefiting from the higher retail prices.
Heather Oldfield, who runs a beef farm in Lincolnshire, said her family was receiving around 8% less for its cattle than a year earlier, even though beef prices paid by consumers had increased by 9% in May. She said the financial pressures facing livestock farms make it difficult to invest in the future and ensure businesses remain viable for the next generation.
The same picture is being reported elsewhere in the food supply chain. Baker Phil Clayton said customers are paying slightly more for bread rolls, despite wheat prices to farmers falling. He said his business has been affected by rising operating costs, including wages, energy and premises costs, leaving little choice but to increase prices on some products.
North Yorkshire mill manager Robert Archer said higher transport costs have also pushed up the price of producing organic flour, even when grain is sourced locally.
Vegetable growers have also experienced mixed fortunes. While some have received higher prices for their produce, growers say increased spending on fuel, fertiliser and other essential inputs has reduced the financial benefit of those gains.
The issue illustrates the gap that can exist between farmgate prices and supermarket prices, with changes in processing, transport, packaging, labour and retail costs all influencing what shoppers ultimately pay.
A spokesperson for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the Government continues to support the farming sector through investment programmes and measures aimed at helping businesses manage rising operating costs.