Date set: Major bread price hike on the agenda in Istanbul

Flour has also been affected by the price increases caused by high inflation. The rise in flour prices has led to hidden price hikes for bread in some districts of Istanbul.

Erdoğan Çetin, President of the Istanbul Bakers Chamber, stated that they have submitted their request to the tradesmen chambers to increase the price of a 240-gram loaf of bread to 15 liras.

Çetin emphasized that there has been a significant increase in flour prices recently. "The 50-kilogram sack of flour that we used to buy for 620-650 liras has now risen to the 750-800 lira level," said Çetin, expressing that bakers are struggling to cope with this increase.

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According to a report in Sözcü, Çetin said, "Mills are raising flour prices in an organized manner. Bakers cannot find the financial strength to stock enough flour in their warehouses," adding that this situation makes an increase in bread prices inevitable. Adding that 150 bakeries have closed in Istanbul in the last six months, Çetin stated that bakers are in a difficult situation.

In regions such as Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Sarıyer, and Avcılar, some bakeries have started selling bread for 12.5 liras instead of the officially announced 10 liras. This unofficial price hike has caused bread prices to increase by 25 percent. While Erdoğan Çetin stated that the price of bread per kilogram is currently 50 liras, he said, "However, some members have started making bread 250 grams and selling it for 12.5 liras. At this rate, the price will rise to 15 liras by the new year. If costs rise further, the price of bread may increase even more." Çetin also emphasized that this increase in bread prices is driving the public more toward Halk Ekmek (Public Bread).

The Turkish Grain Board (TMO) had set the price of milling wheat at 9,250 TL per ton in June of this year. In the domestic market, the price of a kilogram of wheat ranges between 9.5 and 12.5 liras.

News Source: 12punto