For retailers in our sector, none of these increases will come as a surprise but it shows how important it is to ensure that EVERY delivery and EVERY invoice is examined forensically to make sure that there hasn’t been a sudden, unannounced increase in the wholesale price.
The other important aspect of significant food inflation is the effect it has on wage demands; as the Low Pay Commission enters a crucial period in advance of making a recommendation on the National Minimum Wage rate for 2026, CSO figures for CPI will form a significant part of their deliberations and given the importance of food prices in the weekly outgoings of low paid workers, these recent figures are of concern to employers and employees alike.
