DEPUTY Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh said the ministry has issued a notice for Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd to explain why it would raise the prices of 30 of its bread products from October 1.

Fuziah said the notice was issued yesterday as unreasonable price hikes could burden consumers.

“Gardenia needs to respond to the notice within six days because we want to know all the costs involved, such as the price of flour used, transport costs, and wholesale and retail (prices). The entire supply chain needs to be explained,” she said.

Fuziah said this after attending the Tanjung Lumpur Mobile Rahmah Sale at the Pinggiran Putra People’s Housing Project in Kuantan today.

She said after receiving Gardenia’s explanation, the ministry would determine whether the price hikes were justified.

Fuziah said the ministry cannot prevent a company from raising product prices, but could control the hikes under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

Previously, Gardenia in a media statement said 30 of its products would cost between 10 and 40 sen more.

However, the bread producer said prices of white, whole wheat and Toast’em loaves would remain unchanged to ensure the increase did not burden the majority of customers. – Bernama, September 28, 2023.