Barbadians are crying out that the prices on hams are ridiculous this year; but that hasn’t stopped them from buying up the Christmas fare – even by the cases.
Both Farmers Choice and Peronne sales centres have been brimming with people collecting their hams, and many a shopper has been caught hefting and comparing the weights and prices of both brands at the supermarket.
The prices for hams this year range from $20.39 per kg to $27.39 per kg, with regular picnic hams costing between $47 and $62.99. The larger picnic ham can cost shoppers as much as $84.99.
Denise Drayton,who had just bought two hams from one of the sales centres, said she was shocked at the high prices.
“The prices this year are ridiculous! The hams are the same size as last year’s, but the prices are very high.”
Catherine Seifert-Jones who had just thrown two cases of hams into her trolley, said a ham usually lasted one day at her home.
“I have to cook about six hams during the Christmas season; and now we have family coming in from overseas we have to purchase even more,” she said.
As Paige Bryan checked out the prices of picnic hams at the sales centre, she too was shocked.
“Just two weeks ago I saw hams way cheaper than this at another supermarket. I refuse to buy them at these prices, she scoffed.
Eulene Luke, a supermarket shopper, said the prices were “basically the same as last year . . . just that the hams look a little smaller”.
Brand manager at SBI Distributors, Lecent Headley, said sales for the season had been very good. In fact, she noted sales had increased at all the major supermarkets.
“Our prices are the cheapest on the market and as the slogan says, it’s the sweetest ham down to bone,” she stated.
Hanschell Inniss’ retail division manager Christopher Donowa said he was unable to comment at this time. (CT)
