Cost of tasty cheese breaks $20 a kilo

Tuesday, 27 August 2024

A block of the cheesy stuff for $20, as seen in a local supermarket this week.

Despite food prices seeming to slow their surge upwards, it looks like money still doesn’t grow on cheese.

An eagle-eyed shopper in Wellington’s Petone noted the price of a one kg block of cheese has now reached $20.

The Stuff reader was shopping at Petone Woolworths when he came upon the price tag that showed your once-typical block of New Zealand’s finest is now priced at 20 bucks.

The supermarket ticket breaks the price down to $2 per 100 grams.

In your New Zealand money that’s a whole green Queen or possibly the amount of your tax cut for the fortnight or whatever $20 means to you.

In neighbouring New World Lower Hutt, the same 1kg block was only slightly less at $19.49 or $1.95 per 100g.

Promoted there as “Mainland Tasty cheese doesn't last long in your fridge”, the same could be said of your wallet.

At Pak’nSave Lower Hutt, the same 1kg block was a relative bargain at $17.79, or $1.79 per 100g.

Four Square, which along with New World and Pak’nSave is owned by Foodstuffs, only sells a 500g block of Mainland Tasty Cheese at its Eastbourne, Lower Hutt store.

Ben Smith of Street Food on Washington in Nelson with his Pickled Philly, a finalist in the battle for New Zealand’s best toasted sandwich, the 2024 Great NZ Toastie Takeover.

At $13.99, this would be the equivalent of $27.98 for a kilo, making it the most expensive out of the outlets compared by Stuff. It’s 250g block was on ‘special’ at $8.49, but not so special if you need a kilo and have to buy four of them as that would amount to $33.96.

Guy Blaikie, Consumer Sales Director NZ, Fonterra Oceania said that supermarkets and other retailers set the retail price at their discretion.

“When setting price for dairy products, Fonterra Brands NZ consider input cost rises, such as labour, packaging, energy, manufacturing, storage and distribution costs.

Mainland is a premium brand committed to providing high-quality products to our customers. Our Mainland Tasty block, for example, sits at a slightly higher price point as it is matured for up to 18 months to ensure a rich and distinctive flavour.“

Food prices increased 0.6% in the 12 months to July 2024, according to latest data from Stats NZ.

Food prices had also increased monthly, with a 0.4% in July 2024, following a 1% increase in June 2024.

Over the ditch, cheese is much cheaper.

At Woolworths in Australia, its home brand tasty cheese is A$9.50 (NZ$10.37) a kilo, in its New Zealand shops the same product sells for $10 for 500g and $10.90 for 800g. It is not availble in 1kg blocks.

In the UK, Morrisons supermarket sells its mature cheddar for £5 for 750g, or £6.67 a kilo, which is the equivalent of NZ$14.18 for a kilo block.

* CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said NZ cheese was twice the price of Australia. The story has been amended to clarify that refers to the Woolworths own brand sold in NZ and in Australia. (Amended: August 27, 2024, 11.45am.)