Forum Topic

Are Fruit and veg markets hiking up prices on Chiswick high road?

I notice some of the fruit and veg markets have stopped pricing their goods and one stall tried to sell me a cauliflower for £4 on Saturday afternoon. Ok so we’re lucky to have an alternative to entering a small supermarket but this feels like opportunistic profiteering to me!  We’re being told there’s no shortage of food and with restaurants, hotels, cafes closed there must be enough provisions available at the moment. The stall holders keep rubbing their hands with glee, saying how busy they are and only accepting cash.  Feels like exploitation when we’re worried about our health and so many people losing their jobs!

Liz West ● 2412d10 Comments

£4 for a Cauliflower ? I'd  love to say you8kidding but suspect you're being serious. Which stall was this ?

Loraine Pemberton ● 2412d

Name and shame!

N V Brooks ● 2412d

I’d be very surprised if it was Collins or the Baker brothers

Georgina Flint ● 2412d

My wife swallowed hard and paid £28 for about £10 of stuff just a couple of days back...She'll never go back to that stall (one of the three we enjoy and love)We won't name the culprit....Yet we will advise BEWARE...xx

Stuart Kerr ● 2412d

I've noticed a uptick in prices for some products but nothing too dramatic and certainly not anything that could be called excessive. There has always been a bit of a premium compared to Sainsbury's but this has generally been compensated for by things being lose packed and therefore you can buy exactly what you need and save on waste. There may be an increase in wholesale prices or perhaps they are charging more for people they have never seen before!

Felicity Caborn ● 2412d

All the stalls are run by people with a lot of integrity. The cauliflower pricing may be because what has happened in Australia to fresh veg prices is starting to happen here. See this story

Andrew OSullivan ● 2412d

Thanks for replying.  I regularly use the stalls which is why I've noticed the price increases.  I also shop in supermarkets but don't waste or throw away food.  I don't really accept people saying that it's because there's a food shortage as we're lead to believe that's not the case, particularly as all the restaurants and hotels are now closed.  I don't like to think that we're being overcharged because of the terrible situation we find ourselves in.  I find £4 for a cauliflower that normally costs £1 excessive.

Liz West ● 2412d

I think if you are going to give bad feedback about the stalls on the high road you need to say which one or else they will all lose business.If I was charged £4 for a cauliflower or £28 for goods I'd added up to be £10 I would definitely query the price before handing over the money.I brought two bags of produce at the stall outside Campbells Chemist today and it came to £9.50.  Much fresher and definitely cheaper than Sainsburys.The two guys that have taken over the stall recently are an absolute pleasure to deal with.

M Dowling ● 2412d

"I don't really accept people saying that it's because there's a food shortage as we're lead to believe that's not the case, particularly as all the restaurants and hotels are now closed."You do realise that people still eat food even if restaurants are closed?Why don't you accept that prices might be going up because of shortages? The stalls have to pay what the wholesaler charges and there are bound to be issues with supply right now. The post Andrew shared about Australia is probably a good indication of what is happening here.Bigger price rises are likely to be coming particularly for summer fruits because the UK farming industry already had a shortage of pickers so only a fraction of what is being grown will be harvested.If you don't believe this then ask the stall owner next time you buy if you think the price is excessive and say you no longer want the item if you don't think the explanation is valid.

Felicity Caborn ● 2412d

Chiswick very lucky to have the stalls in their area.I worked in the wholesale markets for over 50 years and the prices fluctuate daily. The Bakers and Collins families are the best at what they do.There is no way either would hike up the prices now.

Mark White ● 2411d