The price hike ingredient

Minimal increase: Certain beverage prices have gone up by 10 to 20 sen in some coffee shops.

IPOH: Coffee shop operators here have increased beverage prices due to costlier ingredients and goods.

Coffee shop owners who spoke to The Star said the prices of condensed and evaporated milk, sugar and plastic bags had increased, thus raising their operation cost and forcing them to increase prices in tandem.

Yip Yoon Chong said a carton of 48 cans of condensed milk used to cost about RM100 but was now about RM110.

“I understand that prices of milk products have gone up due to the increase in the price of aluminium cans,” he said.

“As I would need to fork out more to buy milk products, it is only right that I raise the prices of all milk-based beverages,” he said, adding the price increase started right after the interstate travel ban was lifted.

“As for drinks that do not require dairy products, the prices remain the same for now,” he added.

Another owner, Choong Kam Moon, has yet to increase his drink prices but expects to do so soon.

“It is mainly due to the rising cost of goods like milk, sugar and even plastic bags.

“As I have yet to stock up on new supplies, I need to see how much the new prices will set me back before I set new prices,” he added.

Checks at several coffee shops here found that beverage prices like coffee or tea had increased by 10 to 20 sen.

Food in some premises, like economy rice, shredded chicken kuey teow and chicken rice, have also seen prices go up by between 20 and 50 sen.

Chicken noodle seller Lee Shia Yee has yet to increase prices as she is worried that it will cause her to lose more business.

She said business had only just started to pick up and she has no plan to increase prices this year.

“The situation with the economy is still not so good.

“If I were to increase my prices despite the pricier ingredients, it may affect my business,” she said, adding that business picked up by 40% after seeing an 80% drop during the first movement control order last year.

“I am still thinking about it, and probably will do so closer to Chinese New Year next year,” she added.