They constitute some of Britain's favourite dishes. But the cost of spaghetti bolognese, shepherd's pie, lasagne and other mince-based staples are soaring as supermarkets have hiked the price of value-tier beef mince by up to 25% since the same time last month.
Morrisons has forced through a price increase on a 400g pack of its budget mince of 25%, to £1.20. And Sainsbury's increased the price of a 400g pack of basics mince by 25%, from 96p to £1.20 [BrandView.co.uk] the first time in two years that its mince has risen above the psychologically important £1.
Tesco is also selling mince for £3/kg, pushing up the price of a 500g pack of its own-label value mince from £1.20 to £1.50.
Asda's budget mince is a 500g blended Smart Price beef and pork mince product, the price of which it has held firm. Morrisons said it had kept the cost of its value mince as low as possible, but admitted higher beef wholesale prices had forced it to move retail prices up.
A spokesman said that although Morrisons' vertical integration meant it could make savings the retailer slaughters and processes its own beef recent severe upward pressure on global commodity prices had driven up the cost of production.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's said it did everything it could to stay competitive and keep prices low for customers, claiming the new price was still "great value". "We have a range of great offers to help customers keep within budgets," a spokeswoman added.
Asda which had not increased its prices by the time The Grocer went to press said it was "well known" for delivering everyday low prices and this would continue.
Wholesale beef prices had been rising steadily for some time, said Mintec analyst Robert Miles. That, in turn, was restricting supply as farmers changed their cattle rearing cycles to maximise profits and mitigate the higher cost of feed.
"This year, more cattle are being kept back to feed up in expectation of rising beef prices," Miles added.
Morrisons has forced through a price increase on a 400g pack of its budget mince of 25%, to £1.20. And Sainsbury's increased the price of a 400g pack of basics mince by 25%, from 96p to £1.20 [BrandView.co.uk] the first time in two years that its mince has risen above the psychologically important £1.
Tesco is also selling mince for £3/kg, pushing up the price of a 500g pack of its own-label value mince from £1.20 to £1.50.
Asda's budget mince is a 500g blended Smart Price beef and pork mince product, the price of which it has held firm. Morrisons said it had kept the cost of its value mince as low as possible, but admitted higher beef wholesale prices had forced it to move retail prices up.
A spokesman said that although Morrisons' vertical integration meant it could make savings the retailer slaughters and processes its own beef recent severe upward pressure on global commodity prices had driven up the cost of production.
Meanwhile, Sainsbury's said it did everything it could to stay competitive and keep prices low for customers, claiming the new price was still "great value". "We have a range of great offers to help customers keep within budgets," a spokeswoman added.
Asda which had not increased its prices by the time The Grocer went to press said it was "well known" for delivering everyday low prices and this would continue.
Wholesale beef prices had been rising steadily for some time, said Mintec analyst Robert Miles. That, in turn, was restricting supply as farmers changed their cattle rearing cycles to maximise profits and mitigate the higher cost of feed.
"This year, more cattle are being kept back to feed up in expectation of rising beef prices," Miles added.
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