The rising price of potatoes could drive a wedge between local restaurant owners and customers as menu prices increase.
In the face of the drought, potato prices have almost doubled compared with what they cost the same time last year
Last year 2kg of washed potatoes from Pick n Pay cost R15. This year’s price is R29.99.
Fruit and Veg City charged R59.99 for a 10kg bag in May last year, with the price reaching a record high of R114.99 in January. The price currently stands at R79.
Managing director of Western Gruppe Trading, Nigel Connellan, which runs 13 Spars around the Eastern Cape, said the market was currently unstable, not just on the fruit and vegetable side, but meat as well.
Connellan said the drought had a large impact on pricing, but wasn’t the only reason for the high prices.
He said other factors include fuel increases, labour costs, electricity increases, feed costs and the price of pesticide sprays.
“Many of these are imported and the rand/dollar rate is not favourable at all,” he said.
“My current pricing on potatoes 10kg washed is R65, but fluctuates week from week.
“I can get cheaper, but will not compromise on quality. Bananas extra large top quality is still high with a cost coming in of about R9 per 80kg and I do not see this coming down any time soon.”
“We see fluctuations every week and they contradict so many expert views and opinions,” he added.
Restaurant owners said they too were really feeling the pinch.
Nahoon Fisheries owner Corina Walters said she was forced to adjust the prices slightly to cover costs.
“There have been price increases on goods in the past but never as dramatically as they are now,” she said.
Sanook owner James Hogg, who uses potatoes in eight different dishes in his Beacon Bay and Berea branches, said although they bought pre-cut potatoes, they were still expensive.
“We also offer sweet potato and they have gone up even more than normal potatoes but they’re not a high value item so we’ve managed to stay afloat,” Hogg said, adding that prices had remained the same.
Connellan predicted that with an electricity and fuel price hike on the cards, prices would increase further.
Little faith in cost of potatoes
In the face of the drought, potato prices have almost doubled compared with what they cost the same time last year
Last year 2kg of washed potatoes from Pick n Pay cost R15. This year’s price is R29.99.
Fruit and Veg City charged R59.99 for a 10kg bag in May last year, with the price reaching a record high of R114.99 in January. The price currently stands at R79.
Managing director of Western Gruppe Trading, Nigel Connellan, which runs 13 Spars around the Eastern Cape, said the market was currently unstable, not just on the fruit and vegetable side, but meat as well.
Connellan said the drought had a large impact on pricing, but wasn’t the only reason for the high prices.
He said other factors include fuel increases, labour costs, electricity increases, feed costs and the price of pesticide sprays.
“Many of these are imported and the rand/dollar rate is not favourable at all,” he said.
“My current pricing on potatoes 10kg washed is R65, but fluctuates week from week.
“I can get cheaper, but will not compromise on quality. Bananas extra large top quality is still high with a cost coming in of about R9 per 80kg and I do not see this coming down any time soon.”
“We see fluctuations every week and they contradict so many expert views and opinions,” he added.
Restaurant owners said they too were really feeling the pinch.
Nahoon Fisheries owner Corina Walters said she was forced to adjust the prices slightly to cover costs.
“There have been price increases on goods in the past but never as dramatically as they are now,” she said.
Sanook owner James Hogg, who uses potatoes in eight different dishes in his Beacon Bay and Berea branches, said although they bought pre-cut potatoes, they were still expensive.
“We also offer sweet potato and they have gone up even more than normal potatoes but they’re not a high value item so we’ve managed to stay afloat,” Hogg said, adding that prices had remained the same.
Connellan predicted that with an electricity and fuel price hike on the cards, prices would increase further.
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