Coimbatore bakeries raise tea, coffee prices

COIMBATORE: Bakeries in Coimbatore district have increased the price of a cup of tea from Rs 15 to Rs 20 and that of coffee from Rs 20 to Rs 26. The price hike, effective from Wednesday, marks the first increase in three years, following a previous rise of Rs 3 in 2022.

The decision was unanimously agreed upon and implemented by the Coimbatore District Bakery Owners’ Welfare Association. Now, the prices stand at Rs 20 for tea, Rs 26 for coffee, Rs 30 for ginger tea and Rs 17 for black tea.

R Ponnusamy, president of Coimbatore District Bakery Owners’ Welfare Association and managing director of Aroma Bakery, said, “This is essential because over the last four years, the prices of all basic goods, including milk, have gone up. Prices of sugar and tea dust have gone up. Rent, transportation and electricity costs have increased. Hence, this price rise seems to be essential.”

A regional manager of a popular bakery brand in Coimbatore said, “Providing a quality product to the customer when the raw materials costs are high is truly a challenge, and we cannot meet the customer satisfaction in terms of the product. Any product with the best quality comes with a price. Take any goods, for instance sugar; if the price is hiked, will the public abandon it? No, they still will buy the product. The scenario is the same here.”

A Sethu Prasanth of Gandhipuram in Coimbatore said, “This hike was not notified. Imagine an elderly person goes to a bakery for a cup of tea and a vada with Rs 25 in his pocket. Suddenly, you inform him that tea itself will cost Rs 20. He will have to forgo vada since if he eats vada, he will have to pay Rs 30. He may not have access to cashless payment. I will reduce my tea consumption. If I had had 5-6 cups of tea per day earlier, I'd probably reduce it to 3-4 cups now.”

However, ordinary tea shops in the city and rural areas are still offering the beverages at a cost of Rs 10-12 for a cup of tea and Rs 15 for a cup of coffee.

Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Teacher's Day wishes, messages and Quotes !