Cost of bread goes up in Delta, as bakers end strike

Prices of bread in oil-rich Delta State have been jacked up to reflect the present economic realities in the state.

This came as members of the Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria (AMBCN), Delta chapter, ended their one-week strike to sensitise the public on an impending new regime of prices.

It was gathered that the association declared the strike last week Monday following recent increase in the prices of baking materials and ingredients.

The strike made loaves of bread to be out of stalls and on streets of major cities and towns in the state.

The Delta State chairman of AMBCN, Mr Kelly Orien, while speaking to journalists, stated that a new price regime had been introduced to enable its members cope with the increase in prices of baking ingredients which include flour, yeast, butter and sugar, among others.

Orien lamented the situation, explaining that the recent strike was necessary to sensitise prospective customers that it was introducing a price regime to the market.

He explained that the 50kg bag of flour, which they usually purchased for N9, 500 had been increased to between N11,000 and N12,000 per bag.

He added that a bag of sugar which was previously sold for N8, 000 now goes for N11,000.

The chairman averred that his members had no choice than to jack up prices of loaves of bread since the cost of production has gone up too.

“We went on strike to enable us effect the new price template for bread. This is the only way we can sensitise our customers that prices of materials have gone up.

“If we don’t go on strike, it will be difficult to deal with our buyers. We are now back on stream,” Orien noted.

He gave the breakdown of the new prices, adding they would be reviewed in line with the realities on ground from time to time.

According to him, an “extra-extra large” size of loaves which previously sold for N300 is now N450.

The normal “extra large” loaves, he said, now sells for N380 as against N250.