As Food Prices Rise, Locals Urged to Waste Less and Save More

With food prices continuing to rise, the organisation Love Food Hate Waste is offering practical tips to help Eastern Bay residents save on groceries.

This week, economic analysts Infometrics reported that supplier costs to supermarkets rose by 2.1 percent in June alone. The data also showed that nearly 4,600 supermarket products increased in cost month-on-month.

According to Stats NZ spokesperson Nicola Growden, dairy products continue to be a major driver of food price inflation. Higher prices for meat, poultry, and fish have also contributed significantly to the overall annual food price increase, now sitting at 4.7%.

In response, residents are being encouraged to plan ahead, before grabbing a shopping trolley and walking through the supermarket.

Creating shopping lists before leaving the house and sticking to it is a good start, as it stops any unwanted spending and makes all items useable. Officials also recommend making the most of supermarket specials, shopping at smaller grocers, and planning for larger meals that can stretch further.

Representatives from Love Food Hate Waste suggest that making the most of leftovers and prioritising food already in the fridge can be simple yet effective ways to cut down on waste, and on weekly food bills.