Sandwiches could become more expensive after heatwave damages wheat crops
THE great British sandwich is under threat after the summer's hot weather has caused the cost of ingredients to rocket.
The dry summer has pushed up the wholesale price of wheat, salads, butter and meat which could trickle down to the supermarkets.
Shoppers could soon feel the pinch as the price of wheat - which is the main ingredient to make bread - has already shot up by almost 30 per cent making it more expensive to produce.
Kingsmill owners Associated British Foods has already warned in its most recent market report that the raw ingredient price hike will be "reflected" with its customers meaning that retailers may push that price onto shoppers.
Experts are also warning that a salad and vegetable shortage is expected to last until October, reports .
Cucumbers are the latest to take the hit, with shortages in the Netherlands doubling wholesale prices from £4 to £8 for a box of 12.
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SAVING on your shop can make a big difference to your wallet. Here are some tips from Hannah Maundrell, editor of Money.co.uk, about how you can cut the cost of your shopping bills:
- Write yourself a list – Only buy items that you need. If it isn’t on your list, don’t put it in the trolley
- Create a budget – Work out a weekly budget for your food shopping
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- Don’t buy pre-chopped veggies or fruit – The extra charged for chopping can be eye watering
- Use social media – Follow your favourite retailers to find out about the latest deals
- Be disloyal – You may want to go to different stores to find the best bargains
- Check the small print – It’s always worth checking the price per kg/lb/litre when comparing offers so you’re making a like for like decision as a bigger box won’t necessarily mean you get more
- Use your loyalty cards – Don’t be afraid to sign up to them all. They all work slightly differently – work out what bonus suits you better and remember to trade in your points for additional rewards
And it's not just crops that have been affected - meaty sandwich fillers like ham could also see a shift in price.
The dried up grass left farmers relying on expensive animal feed for cows, sheep and pigs that's usually stored for winter.
This has already had an effect on the amount of meat produced, which fell for 11 weeks in a row leaving prices to creep upwards.
The heat has also had a negative impact on pig fertility, pushing up the price of piglets by 8 per cent, leaving the potential for shoppers to feel the pinch when they're buying their sausages.
The price of butter also went up by just under 25 per cent since March last year.
Brits have already been warned that their food bills could go up by £85 a year after the extreme weather caused vegetable shortages across the UK and Europe.
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Peas, potatoes and even carrots are suffering as a result of the heatwave putting the great British Sunday roast at threat.
Another blow to shoppers is that the weather may cause a cheese and onion crisps shortage thanks to the damaged potato and onion crops.
But some crops have thrived in the sunnier climates like strawberries, which enabled Aldi to sell massive cheap 1kg tubs of the fruit for £2.95.
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