The price of bread has increased by 5–10 tetri starting October 15. According to the head of the Bakers’ Association, Malkhaz Dolidze, the rise is mainly driven by higher flour prices and increased labor costs in production facilities.
“Only two producers have adjusted prices, and only for one type of product. We are talking about an increase of 10 tetri, from which approximately 7 tetri remains with the producer,” Dolidze told BMG. “This year, flour prices are particularly high. Last year, the average price per bag was around 52 GEL, while today it is about 60 GEL.”
According to him, rising wages have also affected production costs. “When people see signs of economic prosperity, they expect to share in it as well. Bakers are asking for higher salaries and better working conditions. These are all legitimate factors that gave producers reason to adjust prices,” he explained. Dolidze emphasized that when flour prices drop, bread prices are also reduced, calling on the public to understand the current adjustment.
“Bread remains the most stable-priced product compared to others. I understand that every penny matters for consumers, but this increase is driven by necessity. A bottle of water now costs 1.8 GEL, while a loaf of bread costs 1.2–1.3 GEL, so talking about a five-tetri increase is, frankly, insignificant,” Dolidze added.
According to the association, approximately 400 tons of bread are consumed daily in Tbilisi, while nationwide consumption reaches about 700,000 tons.
