In this blog we outline the reasons for our Pantri price update. After careful consideration and evaluation we have made the difficult decision to increase our basket prices by £1. As of 1st June 2024, a basket within our Pantri we rose the price of our baskets. Instead of the previous £4 per basket, our baskets now cost £5. We would like to reassure customers that we would not make a price rise unless it was absolutely necessary to secure the sustainable future for Pantri.
Since our opening our community Pantri in 2022 our prices have remained as low as possible. Although we are an Eco-shopping solution, we also understand that our customers have been feeling the struggle and burden of the cost of living crisis since emerging from the Covid pandemic. We have been incredibly fortunate to receive so much support to be able to run the Pantri at our low prices for so long. However, we can no longer ignore the rising pressures we are experiencing.
Why are our prices rising?
We have many reasons for our Pantri price update. Many external factors have attributed to our rising costs; rises in bills and energy prices have contributed heavily to this decision. However we have also experienced increasing difficulties in sourcing food and a rise in those needing crisis parcels.
Since our conception we have partnered with Fareshare. However it has become a more challenging climate. With more and more charities reaching out for support and memberships, coupled with organisations meeting and exceeding their own sustainability targets to not waste as much food the amount of food we source each week has decreased.
Many of you may remember the recent struggles by food banks in the local area. Some have unfortunately had to permanently close their doors. Luckily through appeals to the public’s generosity have been saved and been able to continue on their mission to help the most hungry and vulnerable in our community. Donations, although we are always thankful for what we do receive have in recent months have also decreased. This means we are buying more food to boost our ambient food stores.
The Future for Pantri
Rest assured, we are still in a very strong position to continue to serve the community. As you may be aware we are run by Community Volunteer Wales, who will soon be restarting their Tin on a Wall collections to help ease pressure on not only local foodbanks in the area but help support our crisis parcels that we still regularly give out to those in need.
We are going to be reaching out to businesses in the area, to help sponsor baskets to help ease the pressures on our Pantri. We are also actively sourcing more food partners, which will mean we will have more on offer for our members.
We also have some exciting projects ready to reveal, including our Pantri Urban Garden.
Helping Hand Up Always
We realise this price rise may cause some of our customers to struggle. We encourage those members to come forward and either message us on Facebook or speak to our staff within the Pantri to see how we can help you. The decision has been made to freeze our memberships at £2 for the foreseeable.
Shopping at Pantri still offers incredible value to our members. On average, you can save between £20-£25 per basket compared to other local supermarkets. We are here to give everyone in the community a hand up, not just a hand out. We hope this has explained our reasons for our Pantri price update and you continue to shop with us.
