Jonathan Watson

SHOPPING PRICES in Dundee continue to spiral upwards as the rise in demand for food grows around the world.

A study by The Courier shows the price of nine basic items—foods used on a daily basis, have risen by 38% with transportation costs and global demand increasing the cost of the food on our supermarket shelves.

Visiting three supermarkets in Dundee —the Milton Asda superstore, Morrisons at Afton Road and the Tesco Extra store on Kingsway West—it was found that the cost of nine selected items had risen by over £3.30 on a national average price taken last June.

Items included a loaf of bread, pasta, rice, a box of cornflakes, a container of milk, butter, eggs, potatoes and lettuce.

Twelve months ago the combined national average price of these items would have amounted to £8.93.

However with increased competition for food supplies from around the globe, coupled with vast increases in transport costs, this has swelled to £12.31 in the case of Asda and Tesco and a penny more from the Morrisons chain.

Dairy products have seen some of the most significant increases, with butter and eggs going up 57% and 46.5% respectively.

Butter has also risen by 26%.

Alan Mitchell, chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, believes rising prices are increasingly down to global forces and that a change in government policy is urgently needed if the problem is not to continue.

He said, “The rising cost of food is symptomatic of the global economy feeding through to the local economy.

“There is a global rise in demand but the supplies are remaining static.

“It’s becoming particularly clear that we need a joined up government policy because in the rush to be green we have turned over land to grow biofuels that are no longer available for crop growth.”

Yesterday Scotland’s minister for rural affairs and the environment Richard Lochhead announced an inquiry into affordable access to food, part of a national policy for food and drink for the country.

“I aim to deliver a national food and drink policy which will promote Scotland’s sustainable economic growth,” he said.

When asked about the price rises in Dundee yesterday, a spokesperson for Asda said the company is “committed to giving the best value to our customers.”

“While current issues such as rising energy prices are out of our control, we are doing our utmost to limit impact on customers and keep prices as low as possible.”

No comment has so far been received from Tesco or Morrisons.