Foodservice price inflation falls for first time since September 2021

Foodservice price inflation fell slightly to 22% in January, the first drop in inflation since September 2021.

This is according to the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index (FPI), which saw a record high of 22.9% in December 2022.

However, all categories of the Index remained in double-digit inflation, with oils and fats recording the highest level of year-on-year increase at 42.2%, while milk, cheese and eggs continued to rise quickly at 37.7%. Vegetable prices increased month-on-month by more than 3.5% for three months in a row.

The three major upstream influencers on the price of food – oil, exchange rates and commodity markets – were more stable than in 2022, according to the Index. The UN FAO Food Price Index of food commodities averaged 131.2 points in January 2023, down by 1.1 points from December, marking a tenth consecutive month of decline.

However, energy costs continued to be at extremely high levels against a background of a tightening of government support, and higher labour costs within supply chains showed few signs of easing. The report said a significant reduction in food and drink prices was only likely to begin with an end to conflict in Ukraine, so the outlook for 2023 remained volatile.

Prestige Purchasing chief executive Shaun Allen said: "A fall in the level of inflation is welcome news, and even if it is a small one it is an encouraging reminder that price increases are at last beginning to slow down. We expect to see inflation easing slowly over the course of 2023 as commodity pricing and prior year impacts kick in. Slowing consumer demand within the sector will also impact hospitality sector sales volumes, which should also help to ease supplier prices. Energy and labour costs remain a significant challenge however, so the rate of inflation decline may be slow for some time yet."

James Ashurst, client director at CGA by NielsenIQ, said: "The foodservice sector has been battered by inflation for a long time now, and on top of the disruption triggered by Covid it has left some businesses extremely fragile. A month-on-month drop in inflation is an encouraging start to the year, but with key costs still so high and consumer spending under severe pressure, it is clear that trading conditions will remain tough for the foreseeable future. It emphasises the need for targeted government support to help sustain businesses through these challenges."

Photo: Juice Flair/Shutterstock