Coronavirus: Superette offers free bread during lockdown as cost of food essentials skyrocket

Tuesday, 7 April 2020

The Government has created a reporting mechanism, pricewatch@mbie.govt.nz, so that members of the public can flag instances of price gouging by retailers.

A Coromandel superette is discovering that a loaf of bread can make all the difference to someone's day during lockdown.

Whangamata Foodmarket is offering customers one free loaf of bread with their purchase while the country adjusts to the nationwide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The gesture fights back against instances of price gouging around the Peninsula - where one man was charged $6.20 for a loaf of bread - but store owner Krutika Patel said they only wanted to help.

'It's a hard time for everyone and we only want to help the community,' she said.

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Krutika Patel said the gesture to give out free bread was a thank you to the community for their ongoing support.

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'On the day before lockdown, there was no bread left.

Whangamata Foodmarket is offering customers one free loaf of bread with purchases during lockdown, as the price for 'daily food items' skyrocket.

'We wondered what we could give that is a daily food item for people - and that is bread.'

The foodmarket on Port Rd is an essential business and is allowed to stay open during lockdown. It abides by the one-in-one-out rule.

Not only are they handing out free loaves of bread, but Patel said her landlord has also been charitable in offering essential food items to customers who are struggling.

She said the wider community has rallied together during a 'hard situation'.

'When I told my bread guy that we were doing this for the community, he was very supportive. If I tell him at seven o'clock at night that I don't have any bread, the next morning, it is here.

'Normally we have to give two days notice,' Patel said.

'This is our way to say thank you to the customers for supporting us, and we will try our best to keep the bread coming.'

Online, a Coromandel resident noticed a loaf of oat bread would set him back $5.49, while another would have to fork out $11.99 for a cauliflower.

North at Pauanui, one man was charged $6.20 for a loaf of Tip Top white sandwich bread at his local superette.

'There was no price up and I just wanted to get in the store and out again as quick as possible, and when I got to the checkout, I never imagined it'd be anywhere near that price because generally when I buy bread it's around the $3.20-$3.50 mark,' Bill Brown told Stuff.

'After I came home and checked the receipt, I walked up to the shop and spoke to the manager.'

Brown said he wasn't blaming the local superettes for the 'outlandish' prices, but big businesses trying to make an extra buck.

'Some are going over the top to play the game,' he said.

'They don't have to be over-generous, but they shouldn't overcharge, to me it's pretty simple.'

Since its launch one week ago, there have been more than 2,100 emails to the Government's Pricewatch inbox created for people to report instances of price gouging.

'Given the volumes, individual responses would be untimely but MBIE is working hard to contact firms and understand the reasons for price increases,' a Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment spokesperson said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had seen reports of price gouging on social media, and encouraged people to use the email account for any allegations.

Email pricewatch@mbie.govt.nz