Kenya: Bread prices rise on higher wheat costs

The cost of bread has gone up again by between Sh5 and Sh8 as bakers make a fresh attempt to pass the additional cost in price of wheat to consumers. The price rise comes at a time when households are grappling with increased prices of basic commodities. The price had gone up in January by the same margin, but bakers were forced to beat a retreat after getting stiff competition from supermarkets, which maintained a lower cost on their in-house brands. A 400 gramme loaf of Superloaf bread is now retailing at Sh55 from Sh50 previously with 800 grammes of Festive brand selling at Sh100 from Sh92. "We are getting bread at Sh45 from wholesalers and selling the same at Sh55 following the recent adjustments by bakers," said James Ng'ang'a, a trader in Nairobi. Bread is a common staple on breakfast tables across the country, meaning that any price increase is keenly felt especially at a time when the cost of milk has also gone up. Mr Bimal Shah, the managing director of Broadway Group of ...