The president of Indecom, Miguel Calvete, pointed out that “the conflict between Russia and Ukraine generated a sharp rise in the international price of wheat in March, which had strong repercussions at the local level” and added that to this must be added that “this year, the bakers’ union closed an increase of 56%, which is undoubtedly being transferred to the final price of the products.” In addition, the specialist explained that “gasoline suffered increases of more than 10% and that is also transferred to the consumer”.
He considered, however, thatIt is illogical that the rises between raw materials, parities and fuels make up around 70% and that the final sale price of baked goods and flour derivatives in Argentina has even tripled in some products”.
However, according to another report, that of the consulting firm Focus Market, in the case of the Easter threads, “a greater difference was identified in the 400-gram Easter thread bought in the supermarket, which last year cost $350 and this year costs $499, representing an increase of 43%”.
Easter eggs
The third place among the highest rises is occupied by chocolate eggs from leading brands, since these products “of 20 grams had an increase of up to 74.1%, while those of 65 grams climbed to 81.2% , according to Indecom. “However, in this case, the increase is explained by the fact that cocoa is an imported input, its increase being a natural consequence of the devaluation,” said Calvete.
According to the Focus Market report, for its part, This category is the one with the greatest increase, since last year a 55g milk chocolate egg cost $291 and this year the same egg costs $550, representing an increase of 89%..
“The international price of cocoa went from US$2,350 to US$2,600. Argentina is a net importer of cocoa. However, ingredients such as sugar, milk or emulsifiers also had strong year-on-year increases. Local chocolate consumption is low in our country with 1.6 Kilograms per capita per year. However, seasonally for this date its consumption grows and prices also,” said Damián Di Pace, director of Focus Market Consulting.
Easter eggs, according to companies
Easter comes with increases of between 40% and 70%, so families will have to pay from $500 to enjoy a chocolate eggaccording to inquiries made by Ambit in shops and manufacturers of this product.
From Vasalissa Chocalitier, they highlighted to this medium that “expect a 10% increase in sales for this year” and noted that “the prices of Easter eggs have increased their values between 50 and 60% compared to last year; mainly the increases in all the raw materials of our products have influenced the costs“.
Emiliano Baratzcommercial manager of La Pinocha Chocolates, He said that an increase in the volume of sales is expected, but that panorama will be clearer closer to the date because “customers usually buy during the same week of Easter”, This year falls on April 17.
For its part, Maria Giselle Francofrom Maria Franco Gourmetlocated in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Boedo, highlighted that “A similar level of sales to last year is recorded for this same date, although it is noted that customers are more cautious when buying.”
In relation to the latter, Franco pointed out to this medium that “some customers are anticipating their purchases for fear that -in the days closest to Easter- there will be a price increase or missing products”, as a result of the Possible absence of some raw material.
Asked about prices, Baratz told Ambit what increases of between 40% and 68% are recorded in relation to the same commemoration of a year before: the 100-gram one costs $700; the 250gr., $1750; the 500gr., $3500; and that of 2.5 kilos, $17,500 (this last size is the one that registered the greatest increase). While Franco assured that the average increases are around 38%.
Nicholas Manrique, Mr. Marketing manager for the chocolate category at Mondelez International, highlighted to this medium that “In general, it is an event that, year after year, usually has prices aligned with inflation, and this year is no exception.“.
Easter eggs, in supermarkets
Supermarkets offer a wide variety of Easter eggs, for all budgets, according to a survey of Ambit.
As a reference, we are going to mention some of the best sellers, as published by a leading supermarket on its website; an Easter egg of 100gr. of a first brand is sold for $115 and one of 130gr. with almonds, $705.
As for the brand that comes with a surprise, the 100gr Easter eggs. it is priced at $767; and one of 153gr., at $1053.
Fish
Meanwhile, the prices of fish are in 4th place according to the Indecom study among the foods that increased the most, being that fresh hake per kilo showed an increase of between 60 and 68.8% depending on the point of sale and pink salmon increased by 71.6%. In the case of canned tuna x 170 grams, the increase is 50% average”.
For Focus Market, “the largest year-on-year increase is hake fillet with 66%, since a kilo today costs $899 and last year it cost $540. It is followed by squid with a 56% increase, today its price is $890 a kilo and last year it cost $570”.
“Fish increased by 200% in the accumulated management of Alberto Fernández over chicken and beef in the same period. Today, the problem of price is added to the transport that leaves the port due to the inconvenience of the lack of diesel for a cold and perishable product like this product. In the last week, there were difficulties in reaching the fishmongers,” said Di Pace.
Speculation with Easter
“The Producers and merchants exercise brutal speculation in the face of the Easter holiday, when there is an increase of up to 60% in the consumption of these foods compared to the rest of the yearCalvete said. And he added: “there is a wide divergence in prices of the same products and brands between different points of sale, ranging from +/- 20% to +/- 53%, depending on the business and the geographical area.”
For all this, the head of Indecom pointed out that, “as in 2021, there is a very unfavorable sales expectation, accompanying the general scenario with sales volumes that already fell by more than 50% in 2022 in some sectors and food items. ”.
Source: Ambito
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