Good news for holiday bakers! Prices for the ingredients you use in your cookies, breads, etc. are down from last year. These are the result of lower costs to Wegmans that we are able to pass on to you at this time of greatest need. The reasons for the lower costs are varied, depending on whether it’s sugar or chocolate chips or nuts. However, we know that since 2009, there have been record high spikes in such ingredients and last year’s Midwest drought had a big effect. Now better weather has allowed things to return to a more normal level. Here are a few examples.
Sugar has dropped from $2.49 in 2012 to $1.99. And here’s a fact you may not realize. The Wegmans brand (all cane sugar) is still a five-pound bag, while others have dropped the weight to four pounds. The reasons for sugar cost declines are complicated and so tied up in protecting the domestic sugar producers that it defies explanation. Just enjoy the lower price! Baking sugar (confectioners’ sugar) is also down from $1.29 last year to $.99 now.
Wegmans Chocolate Morsels are down 20 cents to $1.49. I found the reason interesting because I had read that the world market for cocoa was up, but the fact is there’s a lot more sugar in chocolate chips than chocolate (that may be an exaggeration). However, the reality is the decline in sugar costs carried over to the morsels.
There’s good news on nuts, too, for different reasons than the other ingredients. We have done a complete analysis and quality improvement on our baking nuts. Our merchants tell me we can rightfully claim the nuts are “new and improved.” We were not happy with the quality in our own brand and found a supplier that can provide higher quality with greater consistency and reliability, and at a better cost that we can pass along.
Example: 16 oz. walnuts were $6.49 and are now $5.99. Also, there is a new Family Pack size (3 pounds) for $16.99 ($5.66/lb) for you serious bakers.
So…lower prices or in the case of flour, holding the price at $.99, will make sweet goodies taste even better. Enjoy!
Senior Vice President, Consumer Affairs Incredible Service since 1971
