The price of bagels that is known as 'Simit' in Turkish, which were last increased in November, rose to the 3 Turkish Lira band. Due to the increasing costs, the President of Ankara Bagel Shops Chamber, Savaş Delibaş, announced that they demanded a new hike in simit prices.
Delibaş stated that the increasing costs directly affected the bagel producers and sellers, and underlined that the prices were based on the prices in November.
Making statements to our newspaper about the raise offers, Ankara Simit Producers Chamber President Savaş Delibaş emphasized that the bagel shopkeepers could not withstand the increasing costs, and stated that the demand for the raise was not for profit.
"Our application for simit prices to be 4 TL does not aim to make a profit. It was determined to increase the endurance of our tradesmen," he said.
COSTS BASED ON NOVEMBER PERIOD, NOT TODAY'S
Stating that the purchasing power of the citizens has decreased seriously, Delibaş noted that in the past, the citizens could buy simit more easily, but now they cannot.
"Circulation is also important for tradesmen. With the decrease in the purchasing power of the citizens, the tradesmen lost their circulation. The costs taken as a basis at the time we applied are not current costs. Costs are based on November," he added.
Delibaş stated that there will be an increase in bagel prices even if the current costs continue.
"It doesn't even save 4 TL at the moment. Even the survival of tradesmen has become a luxury. In addition to the hikes in electricity and natural gas bills in January, our raw material costs increased by 200 percent in the period from November to today. If our demand for a raise is not implemented, many of our shopkeepers will have to close their shops. Even if the current costs remain the same, the price of the bagel may be 5 TL in March," he said.