Pastry rise

Article by RANDY?BENNETT

BREAD LOVERS WILL HAVE to cough up more dough if they wish to continue enjoying their favourite pastries.

That’s because the island’s largest bakery, Purity Bakeries, increased its prices from July 1, the same day on which the 400 per cent increase in the National Social Responsibility Levy (NSRL) took effect.

Sales and distribution manager at Purity, Christopher Symmonds, told the DAILY NATION the increase was “definitely and entirely” the result of the NSRL introduced by Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler in the May 30 Budget.

He explained that in an effort to maintain the company’s high standards, a price hike was necessary.

“All of our increases are as a result of the NSRL and nothing else,” Symmonds said. “We don’t deliver stale bread to our customers. We pride ourselves in presenting fresh produce. The shelf life of bread is very short and we don’t enjoy the luxury of having a 30-day expiration date like most other products.

“If we are to continue providing our customers with the best possible product, the increase in price is necessary,” he maintained. (RB)

Please read the full story in today’s DAILY NATION, or in the eNATION edition.