Care home providers are being warned to brace themselves for further food price inflation after a new survey laid bare the extent of rapidly rising costs.
According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index, food prices rose at one of their fastest monthly rates in a year during February.
And there are no signs of a slowdown any time soon with social care one of several under-pressure sectors exposed to spiralling costs.
The price of breakfast staples eggs, butter and bread is rising — leading to fears that care homes across the country could be forced to cut back on one of the most important meals of the day.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Breakfast, in particular, got more expensive as butter, cheese, eggs, bread and cereals all saw price hikes. Climbing global coffee prices could threaten to push the morning costs higher in the coming months.
“While shop prices remained in deflation in February, prices on the month saw the biggest increase in the last year.”
February’s food price inflation follows hot on the heels of overall inflation rising to three per cent in the year to January — the highest level in 10 months with food and transport the biggest drivers.
Food inflation rose above two per cent in February and the BRC expects that figure to double by the second half of the year.
“At a time when the care sector is facing additional costs in terms of rising energy bills, increased National Insurance contributions and more expensive fresh food, it’s vital that we do everything we can to help source savings,” said Callum Thompson, CEO of Business Energy Claims.
“Those savings could come in the form of a successful claim against an unscrupulous energy broker. In many cases thousands of pounds can be recouped and, given the unique set of financial circumstances facing the care home sector right now, that extra money could be invaluable.”