Some coffee chains hike prices as costs heat up

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An honorable member of the Coffee Shop Has Just Posted the Following:

At least two coffee chains have raised their prices by about 10 per cent recently, citing escalating operating and ingredient costs.

Since January, Toast Box has progressively adjusted the prices of about 30 per cent of its products, including its larger-sized hot beverages, a company spokesperson said. The chain, which has 70 outlets here, did not give a range of its price increments, but it said the average price hike was 10 per cent, due to higher manpower costs and rising prices of ingredients, among other factors.

Another coffee chain, Coffee and Toast, raised prices by an average of about 10 per cent across its 12 outlets. A cup of kopi o, or black coffee, now costs between S$1.40 and S$1.50, depending on the outlet, instead of S$1.30.

Noting that it was Coffee and Toast’s first price hike in almost two years, company director Jack Poon said it was time to catch up with market prices, given the growing manpower and rental costs, as well as costs of raw materials such as coffee beans.

Checks with other coffee chains, including Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Old Town White Coffee and Starbucks showed that they have not raised prices. A check with five coffee shops in Hougang, Yishun and Toa Payoh also found no changes in their prices so far.

Both Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association (FCRBMA), and the Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants Restaurant and Bar-Owners Association said they have not heard of plans to raise prices among their members.

In response to TODAY’s queries, the Consumers Association of Singapore’s executive director Seah Seng Choon said it has not received any complaints about coffee prices this year.


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