Cost of loaf to rise by 22p

Black Country bakeries are being forced to put up the price of bread by as much as 22p because of rising costs and poor crops resulting from bad weather conditions.

The baking industry has been hit by weather related problems affecting crops in the north of England and drought conditions in Eastern Europe.

Wheat stocks are now at their lowest for 25 years and prices have risen by 49 per cent since last year.

An increase in the price of eggs, milk and electricity has also piled on the agony for the region's bakers.

The cost of a large white loaf at Billy Bunter's Bakehouse in Walsall has gone up 22p within the last 12 months to £1.06p.

Proprietor John Hollier put up notices to customers apologising for the price hike. He said the increase was due to a rise in cost of raw materials.

"These have almost doubled this year compared to last year," he added. "Any raw material price increase is bad news for us because we have to pass it on in the selling price. There have been three price rises this year and the last one was a 20 per cent increase which is quite substantial."

The soaring cost of flour has also forced a string of bakeries in the Dudley borough to put up prices.

Society Bakery based at the Co-op in Sedgley is among them.

Manager Darren Guest said: "It is simply down to the cost of flour which has gone up by about 33 per cent.

"All of the pre-packed bread is about to rocket up. We have held off as long as we could but we are going to have to up the cost of a loaf to about £1.06 or even up to £1.10 from 98p ."

Wollaston Bakery, which has outlets across the Black Country, is putting up the price of a loaf from 99p to £1.10.

Peter Tibbott, aged 48, is the owner of Your Daily Bread on the Spring Road Industrial Estate, Ettingshall.

He has had to put the price of a large loaf up 6p to 93p, a small loaf 3p to 53p and rolls by a penny.

Bread prices at Tony's Bakery in Kidderminster have increased by 10p with a standard white loaf now £1.20.

Bakeries in Sandwell have also been forced to hike up prices. Staff at Firkins bakeries in West Bromwich said they would increase the price of bread next week by 11 pence.