Shoppers are talking about the rising cost of freezer goods and basic food items available in stores these days.
A food item whose price has risen significantly in the past few months is turkey tails, from $14 a case early this year to $20 whole sale with the latest shipment.
Some stores are selling a case for almost $25.
A major wholesaler shared insights in to the cause of the steep price increase.
Francine Gaisoa Liulevaega of Tautua mo Oe points to several factors including an increase in suppliers’ prices and the excise tax for miscellaneous items increasing from 5% to 8%.
She explained that since last year suppliers in the US have been raising the price of turkey tails.
She estimates that in six months the cost of this highly fatty but popular food item has risen from 35 to 75 cents a pound.
Meanwhile the price of a case of chicken has gone back down and is selling wholesale for about $11 a case. A few months ago a case was selling for more than $15.
The Tautua Mo Oe Manager said because many of the Asian stores are bringing in their own containers of chicken their company has stopped importing chicken on every boat that comes from the mainland.
She said its an item that doesn’t turn any profit.
According to the businesswoman they’ve also discontinued importation of boneless beef because its cost prohibitive and the profit margin is small.
She pointed out that since there’s no USDA meat inspector based here, sometimes the meat shipments from NZ will be on the dock for a few weeks to await the inspector’s quarterly visit before they are released.
“And guess who pays the cost of refrigeration and storage? Us and that all goes into the cost we sell our goods for,” said Gaisoa Liulevaega.
