Food prices affecting local businesses and food banks in Salford

Donations to Salford food banks have dropped significantly since before Christmas but the demand remains high, say charity workers.

Despite this demand, local shops surrounding Salford are also suffering with the rise in the costs for produce.

Paul Harris, a member of the Salford Food Bank, detailed that the rise of donations may have been as a result of the Christmas generosity.

However, Mr Harris added there has been a noticeable change to donations over recent weeks. He said:  “December was off the charts busy with donations with the need for food parcels going up.”

Salford Food Bank distributed over 5.1 tonnes of food in the third week of December.

Mr Harris explained that the Food Bank has “now seen a huge drop in January.

“The need is very high, but the donations aren’t coming in. We roughly buy 40% of the stock ourselves because the donations don’t keep up with the need.”

Data from the Office of National Statistics for 2021 show that food prices have risen by 16.8% from the previous year.

Mr Harris explained the impact that the rise is having on the charity. He continued: “We are paying more and it’s costing us more.”

“We have noticed the number of vouchers go up. More families are being drawn in using the emergency food parcels.”

And this growth in inflated prices has also caused a concern for local businesses, with a significant rise in the prices of meat.

Local butcher shop in the Salford Shopping Centre, The Meat House Manchester has been impacted as a result of the inflation, with beef and poultry both surpassing a 15% rise in the last year.

Mathis Costa, a butcher from The Meat House Manchester, said: “It has become more difficult over the past two to three months, because of the higher prices.”

He also explained how difficult competing with larger commercial stores has been. He said: “It’s strong competition, they can lower their prices, but we can offer people more quality.

“They come here for the quality, but they go to the other stores for the prices.”

These rises in prices have been significant for how customers now buy in shops, with local shops further expressing their concerns.

Local shopkeeper, Arif Vohra, spoke about the impact that the rise in prices has had on his shop. He said: “You didn’t used to think about buying stuff now you have to.

“People now have to look for cheaper and it is affecting business.”