Price fluctuations should remind operators that the market remains volatile—analyst
Inflation in June 2024 stood at 3.6%.
Year-on-year inflation in the foodservice sector has fallen for 12 months in a row however a recorded month-on-month uptick of 1.3% in June is a warning sign that the market remains volatile, a report from Prestige Purchasing and CGA by NIQ reveals.
Inflation in June 2024 stood at 3.6%, a rate now considered normal for the industry. The 12 consecutive months of decline are a very welcome trend for both businesses and consumers, who have faced several years of historically high inflation, the report said.
Hospitality group sales saw a growth of 2.9% in June year-on-year but was slightly lower than May’s rate of 3.6%, according to the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker.
“Whilst the year-long trend of falling inflation is encouraging, the return to month-on-month increases serves as a reminder that the market remains volatile. Operators should remain vigilant and closely monitor price fluctuations to ensure their businesses are well-prepared for any future challenges,” Shaun Allen, Prestige Purchasing CEO, said.
Of the 10 categories of the Foodservice Price Index, only vegetables remains in double-digit inflation—driven primarily by the potato market, where poor weather conditions have impacted 2023 crops and availability leading into the 2024 season. Adverse weather has also impacted other outdoor vegetables, causing delays in planting and poor availability during the seasonal crossover, and pushing up prices for carrots, onions and brassicas. More positively, two categories of the Index recorded year-on-year deflation to ease pricing pressures.
“Twelve continuous months of decline in inflation have brought much-needed respite on the cost challenges that have besieged the foodservice sector lately. Along with an easing of some other input prices and consumers’ improving spending confidence, it builds optimism for a strong remainder of 2024—but a return to month-on-month inflation warns us that prices are likely to stay volatile for some time to comel,” Reuben Pullan, senior insight consultant at CGA by NIQ, said.
