Prices of branded breads up; others remain steady

Bakers have agreed to absorb up to end this year the supposed 6 percent increase in prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal, although they have already started raising prices of branded breads of between 4-5 percent or at least by 12 per loaf.

This developed after a meeting between Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez and industry players led by the Philippine Baking Industry Group (PhilBaking).

Prices of Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal will remain at 135.00 per loaf (450 grams) and 121.50 per 10-piece pack (250 grams), respectively, as a Christmas treat for the Filipino consumers, announced Lopez. Pinoy Tasty already accounts for 12-15 percent of total white loaves being sold in supermarkets and groceries.

PhilBaking President Paulo Valderrama stressed that bakers have not increased prices of Pinoy Tasty since its birth in October 2010 and in fact been reduced from 136 to 135 at present.

Valderrama said bakers have to sacrifice despite rising cost of LPG, diesel, sugar and raw materials due to higher taxes under TRAIN amid weak peso. In fact, he said, prices of flour have already gone up by an average of 145 per 40kilogram bag including Harinang Pinoy, which is used for Pinoy Tasty and Pinoy Pandesal.

“Based on the major costs such as flour, sugar, and yeast, there has been an average of an estimated 6 percent increase due to forex, TRAIN, fuel, among others, but we have to sacrifice as we don’t want to add to the rising inflation,” said Vaderrama, who owns Marby breads.

Valderrama, however, said that prices of branded breads have already started going up by 4-5 percent or about 12 per loaf.

Gardenia Bakeries, the country’s largest bread manufacturer, said it will raise prices of its 600 gram white loaf bread by end this year by 2 percent from the current price of 162.