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Tonight on Panorama, we investigate
the rising cost of food.
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Before we'd just go to a supermarket
and just put things
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in a trolley and think,
"Oh, we'll make this
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00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:19,575
"or we might make that."
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00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:24,735
Can't do that any more.
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00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,175
We've tried going for a cheaper
option, the kids definitely notice
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00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:31,095
the difference between Heinz ketchup
and Essentials ketchup.
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00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,415
And how where you shop can really
impact what you pay.
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If you were to buy this exact shop
every week for a year,
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it would cost over £300 more
than the shop from
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00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,695
the big supermarket.
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00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,735
Rising prices are also forcing
schools to make tough choices.
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I wouldn't be surprised
if we were around £60,000 short
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00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:53,335
at the end of this financial
year in March.
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£60,000.
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00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,735
One and a half teachers.
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00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:01,695
And with food prices
continuing to rise, what's
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the long-term cost for Britain?
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00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:05,175
Malnutrition is a huge
concern right now.
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It's becoming the norm that
people aren't eating.
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00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:15,575
Ancl that's
shocking to be saying that.
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Food inflation in Britain has
skyrocketed - increasing
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at its fastest rate in 42 years.
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Yep, let's go.
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The average annual grocery bill
for households is now forecast
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to rise by £682 this year.
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Hi!
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Come on in.
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Alan and Becky live in Sussex.
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They run their own business,
which earns them above the UK
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average household income in Britain.
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00:01:53,720 --> 00:01:56,095
But recently they've seen the cost
of feeding their family
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of seven rise sharply.
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In any given week what do you think
you might spend on food?
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00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,055
Now I'd say £170, which has
gone up a lot from I'd
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00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:07,375
say, what, £110 maybe?
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00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:10,735
Yeah.
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The cost of food going up now
is concerning because it feels
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00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:14,575
like it's never-ending.
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00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:16,935
So have you changed
how you shop lately?
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00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,815
With things like the pastas,
we'll bulk buy the pasta and we've
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00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:22,935
been doing a lot of pasta bakes
and pasta dishes that are going
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to fill everyone up for cheaper.
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00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:26,495
So sticking with more kind
of cheaper carbohydrate.
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00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,255
Yeah.
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00:02:28,280 --> 00:02:31,655
Butter has gone up a lot,
that's something we've bulk bought.
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00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:36,375
Ancl cheese because the price has
just gone up massively.
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00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,055
So this is the sort
of quantity of cheese you buy?
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00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:40,335
Yeah, family-size cheese.
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00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,135
It's much cheaper to buy
it in bulk like that.
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00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,255
But they've also been cutting
back where they can.
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00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:51,695
This one is a 500g mince, whereas,
usually I would buy 750g, but now,
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00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,775
obviously, the price has gone up
so much, I have learnt to stretch
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00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,615
that further by bulking it up
with things like carrots or even
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00:02:57,640 --> 00:03:01,455
potatoes cut up really small.
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00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:08,895
It just make it go further really.
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00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,135
Savings are needed more than ever.
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00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,015
As a journalist I've been covering
stories about food for 15 years,
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00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:22,095
and I've never seen annual
rises like this.
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00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:29,095
From our morning cup
of tea to beans on toast.
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00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:37,055
Every time we put oil in a pan...
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00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,735
...chop an onion...
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00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:42,655
...or serve up some pasta...
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00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:47,655
...we're seeing the pennies add up.
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00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:54,655
So why have prices
gone through the roof?
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00:03:57,680 --> 00:04:02,855
Over the last three years,
a series of shock waves have
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00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,575
put immense pressure
on our food supply chain.
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00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:08,735
Let's take the humble
potato, a staple of many
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of our favourite meals.
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00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,695
Now the price of a two and a half
kilo bag of spuds has
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00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:15,855
gone up 10p since April.
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00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,055
And there are a number
of reasons behind that.
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00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,575
First, you've got
to grow the potato.
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00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,975
That involves fertiliser,
which has gone up in price this
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00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,735
year by more than 30%.
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00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:31,375
And then the potatoes
need to be harvested.
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00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,775
The machinery that does this needs
fuel, which has risen in the past 12
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00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:38,855
months by more than 45%.
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00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:40,535
And you've got to pay the workers.
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00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,775
Labour costs have gone up at least
6% in the last year due
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00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,175
to an increase in minimum wage and,
according to farmers,
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00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,575
there's still a shortage
of workers since Brexit.
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00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:55,815
On top of that, UK potato harvests
have been hit by drought.
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00:04:55,880 --> 00:04:58,255
And since the pandemic,
packaging and transport
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00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:00,855
costs have also risen.
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00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:07,135
Altogether adding up to that extra
10p on a bag of spuds.
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00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,255
It's a dizzying list of global
factors all of which have a knock-on
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00:05:10,280 --> 00:05:12,135
effect on the price of food.
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00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,975
But what about closer to home,
in the shops where we buy
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00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,135
the majority of what we eat?
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00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,375
Which brings us onto
the supermarkets.
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00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,695
Almost 80% of people in Britain
shop at a supermarket
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00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,935
at least once a week.
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00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,615
We've grown used to a wide
range of food all year
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00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,255
round at competitive prices.
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00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:39,695
Last year, the UK's three
biggest supermarkets -
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Tesco, Sainsburys and Asda -
made profits totaling £3 billion.
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00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:47,255
So how will they fare during this
cost-of-living crisis?
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00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:49,015
How challenged are the
supermarkets right now?
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00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,615
Supermarket power has grown.
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00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:53,655
Supermarket power has grown.
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00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:55,855
They are the power brokers,
the baronial class of
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00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:57,775
the modern food system.
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00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:00,135
The problem is now they're
in a situation where they're
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00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:03,495
being hit by events and trends
that they can't control.
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00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,335
Ancl they're trying very hard to keep
prices down while maintaining
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00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:11,535
their market share.
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00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,535
You could've saved money on that lot
with the Sainsbury's smart
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00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:15,615
shop app, you silly...
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00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:18,215
Sausage!
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00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:20,095
Supermarkets say they're
trying to help us through
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00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:22,255
the cost-of living crisis.
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00:06:22,280 --> 00:06:26,415
Their glossy adverts trying to keep
us coming through their doors.
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00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:31,375
We're on your side
and staying there.
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00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,495
Seasons change, but
these prices won't.
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00:06:34,520 --> 00:06:39,655
And right now they need our
business more than ever.
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00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:42,375
But as our budgets get squeezed,
the changing way we shop
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00:06:42,400 --> 00:06:44,815
is having an impact.
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00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:47,695
I think what we're seeing is that
people are buying fewer brands.
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00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:52,975
They're also buying fewer items.
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00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:54,775
This is bad news
for the supermarkets.
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00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,135
To make a profit, you need people
to buy the brands, the luxury items,
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00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:04,655
the treats and we're not
buying as many.
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00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:07,735
I'm heading back to
see Becky and Alan.
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00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,135
They're having to think more
about the products they spend
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00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:13,255
their hard-earned money on.
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00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:16,615
Do you guys mind if I have a quick
little look in your cupboards?
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00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:17,815
Yeah, of course, go ahead.
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00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:18,775
Yeah, no worries.
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00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,015
Branded products tend to be more
expensive than cheaper
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00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:22,295
own-brand alternatives.
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00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,175
To save money, Alan and Becky have
tried to reduce the number
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00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:30,335
of branded items they buy,
but it isn't easy.
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00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:32,335
So you've got a few
brands, haven't you?
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00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,575
Yeah, we've tried going
for a cheaper option.
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00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:35,735
Yeah, exactly.
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00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,055
Ketchup is one of them,
but the kids definitely notice
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00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:43,375
the difference between Heinz ketchup
and like Essentials ketchup.
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00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,535
We've tried probably, I would say,
four or five different supermarkets.
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00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,295
Really?
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00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:50,455
Yeah, we've tried Aldi, Ascla,
Sainsbury's, the Tesco one,
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00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:54,495
Lidl's, even Iceland,
we've tried all of them.
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00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:56,895
Ancl I've even put the ketchup
in the Heinz bottle,
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00:07:56,920 --> 00:07:59,575
but they just know.
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00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:04,695
Wow, that is a mum on a mission
to substitute the ketchup!
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00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:05,775
Consumer campaign group Which?
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00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,215
Has exclusively shared
with Panorama its latest
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00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:14,735
data on the cost of some
of Britain's favourite brands.
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00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,935
For example, over the last two
years, Weetabix has gone up by 16%,
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00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:23,615
that's imp per box.
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00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,655
Potato products like McCain oven
chips and Birds Eye potato waffles
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00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:29,855
have gone up by a third.
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00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:34,895
Whilst Dolmio Bolognese sauce has
gone up by almost 50%.
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00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:37,575
If you have these nine
items in your trolley,
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your shopping bill would be over £4
higher now compared
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with two years ago.
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00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,375
The supermarkets say they're doing
all they can to keep these
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increases as low as possible.
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00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:53,975
I don't think it's an easy decision
for the supermarkets
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00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,375
I don't think it's an easy decision
for the supermarkets
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to increase costs to customers.
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00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,495
There's only so many
consumers in the UK,
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there's only so many buyers,
therefore they've got
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00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,775
to compete with each other
to keep that level up,
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00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:08,455
to keep the number of
consumers coming to them.
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00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,455
Latest figures show that sales
of supermarket own-label
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00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:16,615
products are a third higher
than they were a year ago.
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00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:18,535
And it's good news for
Britain's discount chains.
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00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:21,215
In a search for cheaper alternatives
to household name brands, we've
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00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:27,575
embraced a new kind of supermarket.
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00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,535
In September, Lidl recorded
its strongest sales since 2014.
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00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:37,575
This year Aldi officially
became Britain's fourth
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00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:44,135
largest supermarket,
knocking Morrisons off its perch.
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00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,135
So what's the secret
of their success?
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The discounters are able
to keep their prices low
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because they have a slightly
different model to
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the other supermarkets.
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They have less choice.
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00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,735
They have fewer stores
and they have less floor space,
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so they're avoiding all those costs.
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00:09:57,160 --> 00:09:59,575
That's why it's difficult
for the supermarkets to price match
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00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,775
with the discounters.
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00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,135
But they have tried.
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00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,255
Tesco are by far the biggest
supermarket, with more
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00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,575
than a quarter of the market share.
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00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,655
Four years ago, they decided to play
the discounters at their own game.
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They launched the jack's
chain, named after their
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00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:21,175
founder jack Cohen.
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00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,055
It's Tesco but not as you know it.
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00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:28,855
This chain is called Jack's.
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00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,255
13 Jack's shops were opened,
operating on a "low-cost business
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00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,615
model" that promised the "lowest
possible prices", all of them
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00:10:33,640 --> 00:10:38,495
located in some of the most deprived
neighborhoods in England.
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00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:41,735
But the experiment didn't
work out for them.
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00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,895
Earlier this year, Tesco scrapped
its Jack's chain altogether,
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00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:45,775
turning some into regular Tesco
stores, but closing
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00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:49,775
seven completely.
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00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:55,335
Like this one on County
Road in Liverpool.
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00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,735
This former jack's store
in Walton sits in the most
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00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:03,815
deprived constituency
in the whole of England.
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00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:06,935
Robby works for a community
group, helping local
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00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:12,295
people who are struggling
with their food bills.
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00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:15,375
They collect donations and surplus
from the food industry and bring it
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00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:18,135
to locations around Merseyside.
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00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:19,975
They help feed around
7,000 people a month.
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00:11:20,000 --> 00:11:23,375
All hands on deck over here.
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00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,655
All hands on deck over here.
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00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:28,015
When the local jack's
store closed in Walton,
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00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:29,615
Robbie's team started
to bring their pop-up
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00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,375
pantry to the area.
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00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:39,455
It's become the busiest
place they serve.
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00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,495
Most of the customers have
actually said to us,
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00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,895
"We used to go to Jack's,
because it was discounted
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00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,095
"food or cheaper foods."
215
00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:52,015
So, I think a lot of the people that
used to go there, come here now.
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00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:54,895
From your chats with people here,
how bad are things right now?
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00:11:54,920 --> 00:11:57,055
I've never seen it this
bad in my lifetime.
218
00:11:57,080 --> 00:11:58,095
Mince or chicken?
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00:11:58,120 --> 00:11:59,135
Chicken?
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00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,055
Enjoy.
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00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:05,415
I would say about 60% of people that
come here are in work poverty.
222
00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:08,055
So the wages aren't enough
to keep them warm at home
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00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:09,255
and feed them as well.
224
00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:10,215
We've had postmen here.
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00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:11,335
We've had firemen here.
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00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:12,335
We've had nurses.
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00:12:12,360 --> 00:12:18,975
Ancl we have loads of pensioners.
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00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:20,215
People depend on us now.
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00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,135
When we started this
about 18 months ago,
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00:12:22,160 --> 00:12:24,055
the outdoor mobile pantry,
we were feeding about
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00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:25,055
500 people a month.
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00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:27,015
Ancl now, now we're
feeding 7,000 a month.
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00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,895
We can't cope with it and other
organisations can't cope with it,
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00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:31,175
so it's catastrophic.
235
00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:34,055
The pantry runs on a membership
scheme, where anyone locally can pay
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00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:41,215
£3.50 to choose around £25
worth of food.
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00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:44,375
There's no shame in not having
enough money to live on, you know.
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00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:45,895
It's not your fault.
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00:12:45,920 --> 00:12:48,815
If people are hungry, they just come
here and we'll feed them.
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00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,175
We just try and make it a little bit
of an event for people.
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00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,575
So the half hour they spend
here, if you forget
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00:12:54,600 --> 00:12:55,975
about the woes, it helps.
243
00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:58,655
Ancl I've had people come up
to us and go, "Feels
244
00:12:58,680 --> 00:13:00,295
like a clay out to us."
245
00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,855
That's why you hear us just laughing
and joking with everyone,
246
00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:08,135
just to try and create
the right atmosphere.
247
00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,055
Tesco says following the closure
of jack's in Walton,
248
00:13:11,080 --> 00:13:13,015
customers are now served
by a superstore and three
249
00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:18,015
smaller stores in the area.
250
00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:20,855
It says across the UK it's donated
more than 20 million meals
251
00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:26,095
to community groups and food banks.
252
00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:29,135
Back on the high street,
the way we buy food is changing
253
00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,615
and some of the biggest retailers
are turning their attention
254
00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:33,135
to smaller shops.
255
00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:36,015
Convenience shop sales are forecast
to grow by more than 13% over
256
00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:39,855
the next five years.
257
00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,735
To get in on the action,
Asda are introducing an express shop
258
00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:45,095
format for the first time,
with 30 new stores opening
259
00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:50,575
over the next year.
260
00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:52,935
The main reason the supermarkets
have moved more into convenience
261
00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:57,775
type shops is because shopping
habits have changed.
262
00:13:57,800 --> 00:13:59,335
If you go into a supermarket,
how many people are now
263
00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:01,015
going in and buying a large shop?
264
00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,895
Most people go in and buy
a few items and go out,
265
00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:07,775
they're treating the big stores
like convenience stores.
266
00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:13,295
So in some ways, the supermarkets
are responding to a trend.
267
00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:17,775
Tesco say 70% of their customers
at their medium-sized Tesco Metro
268
00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,775
stores are just buying food
for that day.
269
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,015
So, in a move they say
will serve their customers better,
270
00:14:24,040 --> 00:14:28,455
plans are under way to close 89
Metro stores across the UK
271
00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,855
and replace them with smaller
Tesco Express shops.
272
00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:36,855
This Tesco in Cirencester is due
to shut up shop completely,
273
00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:43,855
with a smaller Tesco Express opening
nearby in this former clothes shop.
274
00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,575
Retired teacher Bleddwyn lives
in the centre of town
275
00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:57,135
and is a regular customer.
276
00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,935
If this big Tesco's closes,
how will that affect you?
277
00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:01,855
Enormously.
278
00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:07,535
It will make my practical
life very difficult.
279
00:15:09,240 --> 00:15:10,655
I'm waiting for a knee operation,
280
00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:12,575
which makes me immobile
to a certain extent.
281
00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,175
Ancl I can't walk as far
as the other supermarkets.
282
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:22,255
There are a lot of disabled people
like myself who live nearby and we,
283
00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:28,855
we rely on that big Tesco's
for all our shopping and we also
284
00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:35,455
rely on it for our social life
to a certain extent.
285
00:15:35,520 --> 00:15:40,215
Tesco's plans could also affect
Bleddwyn financially.
286
00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:43,135
Prices are typically higher
in smaller supermarkets.
287
00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,015
So if you're somewhere where you've
only got access to those stores,
288
00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,895
maybe in a city centre,
particularly if you don't have a car
289
00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:51,975
or access to public transport,
that would let you get to bigger
290
00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:54,135
supermarkets where prices
tend to be lower.
291
00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,575
That can really add up over time.
292
00:15:57,600 --> 00:16:01,535
Bleddwyn has a teacher's pension
and gets the state pension too.
293
00:16:01,560 --> 00:16:05,535
She budgets to spend
£25 a week on food.
294
00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:09,975
Things were already tight before
prices started to rise.
295
00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:16,575
I do record everything I spend
and I am quite shocked at how much
296
00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,575
more I'm having to spend
for what I would call
297
00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:21,735
the essentials of life.
298
00:16:21,760 --> 00:16:26,055
My food, cleaning products, I mean,
I don't buy anything that
299
00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,535
I consider extravagant,
but that takes away some
300
00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:36,215
of the emotional pleasure of life.
301
00:16:36,640 --> 00:16:39,255
I decided to find out
what Tesco's plans could mean
302
00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:43,015
for Bleddwyn's shopping bills.
303
00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:47,695
I visited the soon to be closing
Tesco where Bleddwyn shops now
304
00:16:47,720 --> 00:16:54,055
and a Tesco Express store
at the other side of town.
305
00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,255
I bought the same list of fifteen
typical items that many of us
306
00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:01,775
buy on a weekly basis.
307
00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:05,135
Most products were
identical in both shops.
308
00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:07,335
Except the instant coffee.
309
00:17:07,360 --> 00:17:12,655
The jar was 20p more in the Express
despite being 100 grams smaller.
310
00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:15,735
And the pizza which had
slightly different branding.
311
00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:21,495
It was over £2 more in the Express,
despite being 50 grams lighter.
312
00:17:21,560 --> 00:17:28,135
Overall, the products from
the bigger Tesco came to £35.44.
313
00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:33,495
The basket in the Express
added up to £41.25.
314
00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:36,135
That's a price
difference of nearly £6.
315
00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,615
In fact, every single product
I bought from the Express
316
00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:45,375
was more expensive.
317
00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,455
If you were to buy this exact shop
every week for a year,
318
00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,015
it would cost over £300 more
than the shop from
319
00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,695
the big supermarket.
320
00:17:55,720 --> 00:18:00,175
So visiting your nearest convenience
shop can be a more expensive option.
321
00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:03,575
If you can, it just might be worth
getting to a bigger store.
322
00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:07,415
Even if you have to
pay for the journey.
323
00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:11,215
Tesco says the urban locations
of their Tesco Express stores mean
324
00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:15,255
higher running costs
and prices reflect this.
325
00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,975
Also they've, "locked the price
of more than 1,000 everyday staples
326
00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:21,855
until 2023" and are,
"price matching
327
00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:24,375
hundreds of products."
328
00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:27,455
In Cirencester they say there's
a nearby store offering an even
329
00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:33,255
wider range of affordable food.
330
00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,735
One big factor driving up food
prices has been the fallout
331
00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:39,655
from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
332
00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,895
Collectively, both countries produce
30% of global wheat exports.
333
00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,775
Grain is one of the most important
staples in our food system.
334
00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:53,375
It's the basis of staples
like bread, pasta and cereals,
335
00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:57,815
and farmers rely on it
to feed their animals.
336
00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:02,935
When the conflict started the price
of grain increased 50% in two weeks.
337
00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:06,055
Like other commodities,
investors speculate
338
00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:08,935
on the future price of grain.
339
00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,855
In March, investors piled
into the wheat market
340
00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:15,415
because they thought there was a big
risk to Russian supply of wheat.
341
00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:18,015
Ancl if you're on the right
side of that trade, then
342
00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:19,775
you could make a lot of money.
343
00:19:19,800 --> 00:19:22,855
Equally, if you place the wrong bet,
you could lose lots of money
344
00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:24,535
because the price movements
are so extreme.
345
00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:25,975
They're betting
on supply and demand.
346
00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,175
Yeah.
347
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,935
Those trades, even before
the grain is harvested,
348
00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:36,215
can artificially inflate prices
according to some experts.
349
00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:38,735
Olivier de Schutter
is the UN Special Rapporteur
350
00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:40,935
on extreme poverty.
351
00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,415
He believes the markets have
affected our food bills.
352
00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:48,175
When I go to the supermarket
and I buy my weekly shop,
353
00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:53,415
what impact does commodity trading
have on those prices?
354
00:19:53,480 --> 00:19:58,975
Increasingly financial actors,
hedge funds, banks are active
355
00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:02,015
in the trading of food commodities.
356
00:20:02,040 --> 00:20:06,575
Ancl if all these actors do the same
thing they make a huge profit simply
357
00:20:06,600 --> 00:20:10,655
by signalling to the markets
that they expect the prices to rise.
358
00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:16,295
The prices will rise.
359
00:20:16,360 --> 00:20:19,535
When food prices rise,
as they are doing now,
360
00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,615
it can have a knock on impact
on health, hitting those on low
361
00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,215
incomes the hardest.
362
00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,895
Emma lives in Kent with her
14-year-old daughter Anna.
363
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:33,335
She receives Universal Credit,
and child benefit.
364
00:20:33,360 --> 00:20:36,335
But once her rent and bills
leave her account, she says
365
00:20:36,360 --> 00:20:40,015
she is left with just £20 per week.
366
00:20:40,040 --> 00:20:42,695
So she now relies on free food
from a community fridge
367
00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,495
at the local church.
368
00:20:45,520 --> 00:20:51,695
Before we'd just go to a supermarket
and just put things
369
00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:54,775
in our trolley and think,
"Oh, we'll make this.
370
00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,015
"Or we might make that."
371
00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,055
Can't do that anymore.
372
00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,615
Every bit of food you've got
to really make it go a long way now.
373
00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,495
The cost of living crisis has hit
Emma hard, with her income
374
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:06,695
limited by health issues.
375
00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,855
I've worked for over 30 years
as a carer and then I got
376
00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:10,895
arthritis in my spine.
377
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,575
So after having an operation,
I couldn't go back to work.
378
00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,615
So I had to then go
on Universal Credit.
379
00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,455
I mean, it was OK at first, but now,
because gas ancl electric has gone up
380
00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,535
so much and all the food has gone up
so much, it doesn't matter
381
00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,015
what you do, you haven't got
the money there to pay it all.
382
00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:30,975
I am worried about health.
383
00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:32,975
Is that a pomegranate there?
384
00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,855
It is difficult to try and rustle up
a meal that's healthy
385
00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,855
but sometimes you have to just go
with what you can find.
386
00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,615
OK, let's go.
387
00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,535
We see a lot more diet related poor
health amongst households that
388
00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:51,335
are struggling financially
because they've had to trade away
389
00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:55,775
from that food that will be more
healthy for them to eat.
390
00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,695
As people's diets narrow
we go to things that
391
00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,815
are going to be fit in the freezer,
that are going to be
392
00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,815
safe, that are cheaper.
393
00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:06,735
At a time when every penny counts,
Emma has been finding ways
394
00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:09,295
to make food go further.
395
00:22:09,320 --> 00:22:12,775
What shall we make
tonight, pasta bake?
396
00:22:12,800 --> 00:22:17,335
Yeah.
397
00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:19,495
She shared some of her
top tips with us.
398
00:22:19,520 --> 00:22:20,535
The slow cooker's brilliant.
399
00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:22,215
It hardly takes any electric at all.
400
00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:24,975
So that is a really cheap
way of doing things.
401
00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,375
Put it on in the morning - it's clone
by 5.00 in the afternoon,
402
00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:30,375
you've got a meal.
403
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,175
If you just cook one clay,
you're only using the gas
404
00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,535
and electric for that one clay
and the rest of the clays you don't
405
00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:39,855
have to because if you batch cook,
it just all goes in the freezer.
406
00:22:39,880 --> 00:22:42,695
You have to think, right,
we've got to have this on Monday.
407
00:22:42,720 --> 00:22:44,375
We've got to have that on Tuesday.
408
00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:48,815
We're doing pasta bake,
so that can do probably
409
00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:52,855
2-3 days actually, then do
shepherds pie on Tuesday.
410
00:22:52,880 --> 00:22:55,255
Do you know how much that
usually is, the mince?
411
00:22:55,280 --> 00:23:02,215
We need to get mince for £2.
412
00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,615
Every meal is having to be planned
for what are we going to have?
413
00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:07,935
What is cheap to have?
414
00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:10,895
You really have got
to use your imagination.
415
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:12,295
Yeah,
bit more than that.
416
00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,935
But even with a carefully planned
approach to mealtimes,
417
00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,855
the future is a huge
concern for Emma.
418
00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:24,535
OK, so, you can put
the sauce in now.
419
00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:27,575
Just make sure you cover
a lot because if not,
420
00:23:27,600 --> 00:23:29,815
the pasta goes crispy.
421
00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,975
Emma says she is already
skipping some meals.
422
00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,335
She's not alone.
423
00:23:35,360 --> 00:23:38,975
According to the Food Foundation
nearly 7 million adults in the UK
424
00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:43,775
are estimated to be eating smaller
meals than usual, or skipping them
425
00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:48,735
altogether, because they can't
afford food And that's started
426
00:23:48,760 --> 00:23:51,695
to show up as a health problem
for GPs like Farzana Hussain
427
00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,135
who runs a practice in East London.
428
00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,695
Malnutrition is a huge
concern right now.
429
00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:01,735
I'm really concerned about some
of my elderly patients,
430
00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:06,375
I'm concerned about them not having
enough food let alone
431
00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:08,415
nutritious food.
432
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:14,015
As doctors we're always telling
people to have their five a clay,
433
00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:15,335
the five fruit and veg.
434
00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:18,575
You know, people just
can't afford that
435
00:24:18,600 --> 00:24:19,655
at the moment.
436
00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:26,015
I've got parents skipping
meals regularly,
437
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,415
some who work for the NHS, you know,
nurses who work for the NHS.
438
00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:31,335
It's becoming the norm that
people aren't eating.
439
00:24:31,360 --> 00:24:34,215
Ancl that's shocking to be saying
that sitting in London in 2022.
440
00:24:34,240 --> 00:24:36,935
The price of vegetables has
increased by nearly 12% and fruit
441
00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,535
has gone up over 8% since last
April.
442
00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,815
Britain doesn't eat enough
fruit and vegetables.
443
00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,695
That's terrible for public health.
444
00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:51,295
So, what we're going to see
is health inequalities growing.
445
00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,295
What you having?
446
00:24:54,320 --> 00:24:58,375
Pizza, is that everything?
447
00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:01,775
Vegetable lasagne, just one, yeah?
448
00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,175
Good nutrition is most important
for Britain's children.
449
00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:09,015
For some a school meal is the only
hot food they'll eat all day.
450
00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:10,615
Cheese and beans?
451
00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:13,535
There you go sweetheart, thank you.
452
00:25:13,560 --> 00:25:17,095
This busy secondary school canteen
in Greater Manchester serves more
453
00:25:17,120 --> 00:25:20,575
than 1,000 pupils each day.
454
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:23,615
But according to Head Teacher Gt yon,
cost increases are making it much
455
00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,135
harder to put food on plates.
456
00:25:27,160 --> 00:25:30,295
Even today, my chef has been
telling me that the price of bread
457
00:25:30,320 --> 00:25:32,415
and the price of margarine has
gone up 14%.
458
00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,335
Ancl the fundamental fact is,
we can't keep pace with the changes.
459
00:25:35,360 --> 00:25:37,015
So we're outstripping
what we're getting already.
460
00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:39,295
So your canteen is effectively
running at a loss.
461
00:25:39,320 --> 00:25:41,655
Yes.
462
00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:47,055
Can I have an apple juice please?
463
00:25:47,120 --> 00:25:49,255
You certainly can, is that
all you're getting, darling?
464
00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:53,375
Nearly 700 pupils here are eligible
for free school meals,
465
00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:55,215
whilst around 400 pay
to use the canteen.
466
00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:57,695
Put your account up for me
please, thanks my love.
467
00:25:57,720 --> 00:25:59,895
Can I have chicken
and cheese please?
468
00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,135
The school says the total cost
of feeding pupils far exceeds
469
00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:06,135
the money it gets from parents
and Government funding.
470
00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,775
It says the canteen is now running
at a loss of around 70p
471
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:13,455
for every meal served.
472
00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:16,535
I know some schools will make that
hard decision of having to ask
473
00:26:16,560 --> 00:26:18,055
parents to increase prices.
474
00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:20,935
Ancl we are allowed to put up
prices in line with some
475
00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:21,975
measures of inflation.
476
00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:23,855
But I'm concerned that
that's pushing the problem
477
00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:25,655
into the family home.
478
00:26:25,680 --> 00:26:30,855
How is your balance sheet right now?
479
00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:33,855
I wouldn't be surprised
480
00:26:33,880 --> 00:26:36,735
if we were around £60,000 short
at the end of the financial
481
00:26:36,760 --> 00:26:37,775
year in March.
482
00:26:37,800 --> 00:26:38,855
£60,000.
483
00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:40,055
One and a half teachers.
484
00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:42,935
We're having to move funds
in a manner that we've never clone
485
00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:44,815
previously to try and address
the rising costs.
486
00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:48,855
We really are struggling to see how
we're going to get through this.
487
00:26:48,880 --> 00:26:52,135
The government says it's "expanded
access for free school meals"
488
00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,375
with its school holiday activities
and food program me and has widened
489
00:26:55,400 --> 00:27:00,095
welfare funding available
through the Household Support Fund.
490
00:27:00,120 --> 00:27:05,095
Food inflation in the UK
now stands at 14.7%,
491
00:27:05,120 --> 00:27:11,055
a challenge for suppliers,
retailers and consumers alike.
492
00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,015
We assume since the Second World War
that food prices will
493
00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:15,255
just always come down.
494
00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:16,295
But they're not.
495
00:27:16,320 --> 00:27:17,295
They're going UP-
496
00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:18,895
Those clays are over.
497
00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:22,695
Ancl I think this is a test for us,
as whether we are a decent society,
498
00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,375
not just a good food culture,
but a decent society
499
00:27:26,400 --> 00:27:30,295
where we feed everyone
a sustainable, wholesome,
500
00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,895
healthy, affordable diet.
501
00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,335
We're not doing that at the moment.
502
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:36,735
Every penny now counts.
503
00:27:36,760 --> 00:27:39,535
So you've really got to think
about what you're doing.
504
00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,455
I'm really worried about what's
going to happen because it's
505
00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:45,335
bad enough as it is,
but it's going to get a lot
506
00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:48,255
worse if nothing is clone.
507
00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:51,575
While it's predicted prices
will continue to go up,
508
00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:55,055
the speed at which they'll rise,
is forecast to slow next year.
509
00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:57,895
That's a bit of good news,
but it won't ease the pain
510
00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:03,175
many of us are feeling right now.
43242
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