Bakeries have increased prices of their products, but not price-controlled items - FCCC

Following the increase in the price of wheat, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission says bakeries have increased prices of their products, but not for those items regulated by price-control.

Price controlled items include long loaf which can be sold at a maximum price of 71 cents each, medium sliced loaf at $1.00 and wholemeal price of medium sliced loaf is $1.14.

FCCC Acting CEO Vinitesh Kumar says bakeries and shops selling flour products need to ensure a sufficient supply of these price controlled items are in the market and sell it at prices authorised by FCCC.

Kumar stresses failure to adhere to any Price Control Order will result in serious penalties.

He adds a total of 51 market surveillance were carried out in supermarkets, bakeries and corner shops in the Western, Central and Northern Divisions last week.

He says FCCC has mechanisms in place to ensure that Fijians have access to the range of bread products that are under price control.

The Acting CEO further says their teams have been liaising with bakeries, small corner shops, and supermarkets in an effort to ensure that prices for price-controlled products are adhered to.

Kumar adds these market surveillance also serve as an opportunity for them to update their records and keep track of the number of bakeries, corner shops and businesses that sell bread products under price control.

The Acting CEO stresses that any raw materials, not just wheat, being imported into Fiji are exposed to factors that affect their pricing in the global market and the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, coupled with the Russia-Ukraine war, will most likely push prices of imported items up.