Food Prices hit Mobile businesses hard

By Chad Petri Reporter

Food prices across Mobile are on the rise. Businesses that make food for profit are getting hit in their bottom line. Food Prices hit Mobile businesses hard

Published: Thu, March 13, 2008 - 3:59 am Last Updated: Thu, March 13, 2008 - 4:41 am

Chad Petri

Chris Miller toils over a hot stove--food prices have shot up in the last two months. A spoonful of real butter costs more dough.

“You can get four pounds like 7 or 8 bucks now it's like 13 14 dollars,” says Chris Miller.

To give you an idea of how prices have changed, $1.29 used to buy you 12 eggs two months ago now it'll only buy you half that, six eggs, and eggs are one of their most flexible foods.

“Gotta do what we gotta do,” says Chris. “I mean I need eggs to make cornbread and different stuff like that so I've got to have my eggs regardless.”

Carla Miller crunches the numbers on the business end. She says their overhead has gone up by about 20% and they've had to adjust some catering prices.

“That was all included at one set price now we charge an additional charge for anything that's added to our per-person charge,” says Carla Miller.

Caterers like Chris and Carla are hit twice. They have to pay more for the food they make and for the gas that gets it to a party.

University of South Alabama Marketing Department Chairman Mohan Menon says many factors are contributing to the rise in food prices. The dollar's value is down. The consumer price index is up 4.5% and crops like corn are being used in fuel

“Corn is the basis for a lot of ingredients for a lot of other food that is not related to corn,” says Menon.

For now the catering team will supplement the hit to their bottom line by committing to even more catering gigs.