Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
The Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria says the price of bread could increase very soon.
The hint was dropped by the Association during an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria to celebrate outstanding bakers in the South-South region.
The South-South Chairman of Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Kelly Oriem said the planned increment was necessitated due to inflation and devaluation of the naira.
Kelly Oriem said the rising cost of material is really biting hard on bakers in the region.
”In the last two or three months, the price of flour has gone up and that is the way the industry is now, it’s becoming very volatile. If we leaders said, sell the bread at this price today, maybe in the morning when you go to the market to go and buy the materials that you will use for baking against tomorrow, by the time you go back in the evening or even the next day the price of the materials have gone up astronomically. So adjustment of prices is very difficult now” he said.
In his comments, the Chairman of Association of Master Bakers and Caterers of Nigeria, Rivers State, CHIDI ORLU during the event lamented the impact of forex on prices of materials used in baking.
He also tasked their members to focus more on quality rather than packaging.
Chidi Orlu, however, warned Master Bakers against using saccharine and potassium bromate in baking bread stating that such ingredients are harmful to human beings.
”Today we’re all operating below our cost of production. Many bakeries are closing and more will close. Many of us are living on borrowed times. We’re owning left right and center. We buy flour from supplier A and we will not pay, go to supplier B to buy, use supplier B’s proceed to pay supplier A that is what is happening. I know it because I am a practitioner” he stated.
In his speech, the Coordinator of NAFDAC in Rivers State, Chike Obiano said the Agency will continue to enforce standards in the quality of food and drugs in Nigeria.
Chike Obiano said NAFDAC is happy with Master Bakers for promoting high ethical standards among its members.
He said that the Agency is committed to safeguarding the lives of Nigerians through quality control of food and drugs in Nigeria.
Our correspondent reports that Awards were given to outstanding bakers during the event.
