Bread price to soar in Sibu, another fuel hike imminent?

By FMT Staff

SIBU: Already consumer products in Sabah and Sarawak is expensive compared to the peninsula. Come Jan 1, 2011 consumer here will be paying 15% more for a loaf of bread and even more for the local Foochow favourite bisquits.

The Sibu Confectionary and Bakery Association said not only was bread going to be dearer but the prices all other side products such as confectionary and buns and biscuits would also go up.

Said association secretary Lee Yung Kwong: "Operators are weighing under the increasing production costs.

“The cost of ingredients has sky-rocketed. Our last price hike for biscuits was four years ago.

"Two years ago the price for 50kg of sugar shot up to RM60 plus. Now, it has increased to RM110.

"We can't bear the burden anymore.

“Effective Jan 1, the prices of bread loaves and burger buns will go up by 15%.

"And all biscuits, including kong pia, leh pian (wedding biscuits) and cheng tung biscuit, will be increased by 20 percent. Chinese steamed bun will hike by 10 sen each,” he said.

Fuel hike

Lee said the association would continue to monitor the situation because there were already speculations of another hike in fuel prices.

'There are talks that fuel prices will go up by another 58 sen. All this will compound itself and hit us. We will keep an eye on sitaution," he said.

Meanwhile there has been mixed reactions from local traders, with some saying that they will holdout as long as possible before raising prices.

One baker who prepares traditional Chinese bisquits 'tau sa pia" said competition was stiff in the industry.

"Already we have to compete with new products like egg tarts and beef rolls. The young people don't buy tau sa piah anymore.

"As it is we are already struggling with a price war here and trying to sell our products. I don't think I can raise my prices just yet. Let's wait and see," he said.

A random poll of traders here also showed a similar 'wait and see' attitude.