Outrage grows over pricing of iconic snack as Aussies voice their concerns

The humble meat pie is as Australian as kangaroos and the Sydney Opera House.

It's a culinary icon that has warmed the bellies of Aussies from all walks of life for generations.

Whether at a footy match or from the local bakery, a meat pie is a simple pleasure that's supposed to be affordable and accessible to everyone.


The image posted on social media showed a steak and potato pie with a price tag that left many Australians reeling: $10.90.

The caption, 'Meat pie inflation,' succinctly summarised the issue.

The cost-of-living crisis has been nibbling away at our wallets, but to see such an impact on the meat pie, of all things, has been a step too far for many.


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Australians are expressing outrage over the high price of a meat and potato pie, viewed as a staple snack. Credit: Reddit


Social media users were quick to express their outrage, with comments ranging from disbelief to declarations of the price being 'un-Australian.'

The meat pie, after all, is supposed to be a working-class meal, not a luxury item.

'That’s UN-AUSTRALIAN,' one user exclaimed.

'I don’t doubt that pies are more expensive for good reason. But I’m not paying 10 dollars for one.'


Some users even reminisced about the days when pies were a mere $3.50 to $4.50, a price that felt 'about right.'

Whether sauce was included became a tongue-in-cheek quip amidst the frustration.

However, not everyone was up in arms.

Voices from within the food industry came to the defence of the bakery in question.

They pointed out the harsh reality of rising costs for ingredients like butter, yeast, flour, cheese, and meat.

One baker noted that while their bakery managed to keep pies at around $6, they couldn't fault others for charging more due to the expensive nature of running a bakery.


The debate highlighted a broader issue: the struggle of small businesses to stay afloat in an economy where everything seems to be getting more expensive.

A social media user with family ties to a bakery explained the dilemma of raising prices in fear of losing customers to supermarket giants like Woolies and Coles.

This pie-pricing predicament is just the tip of the iceberg.

There is are is a looming crisis in another beloved sector: coffee.

Cafe owners are warning that the price of a flat white could soon hit $7 as they struggle to turn a profit.


The cost of living is squeezing operators and consumers, with industry leaders like Phillip Di Bella predicting a wave of closures if the situation doesn't improve.

The call for government intervention is growing louder, with suggestions such as increasing payroll tax thresholds and reforming industrial relations laws.

In other news, Lode Pies and Pastries in Surry Hills is stirring up conversation with its $20 meat pie.

This culinary creation, made with wagyu brisket, takes three days to prepare and is served with a side of chicken sauce for drizzling. You can read more about it here.
Key Takeaways
  • Australians are expressing outrage over the high price of a meat and potato pie, which is seen as a staple snack in the country.
  • The cost of living crisis affects the price of food items like meat pies, leading to backlash social media against what is perceived as 'un-Australian' pricing.
  • Defenders from the food industry explain the price hike as a necessary response to rising costs for ingredients and the financial pressures of running a bakery.
  • Concerns over increasing prices extend beyond meat pies, with predictions that coffee could soon cost as much as $7 for a flat white due to economic pressures affecting cafe owners.
Have you noticed a rise in the cost of your favourite treats? How has it affected your daily life? Let's discuss this in the comments below.
 
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I remember back in 1973 when the first Lebanese started infecting the area. One smartarse called Kamel El Saket was thrown out of the second story window as shown in the first photo, facing Mountview Avenue. He ended up with a broken arm.

Still being an idiot on his return about a month later, he copped the same fate ago, this time suffering a broken leg.

He never returned to Narwee Boys High School.
 
I remember when they were 20c each.

I also remember the outrage when they were going to rise to a dollar each.

Those were the days....LOL
and they were even cheaper before decimal currency came in.....I will never forget my dear late grandfather would bring me a hot pie for my lunch every day at state school during Melbourne cold winter days and we would sit and talk until it was finished....Love you BAR, my best friend in those days of my life.❤️
 
We just got back from the best bakery ever situated in Kingsgrove Sydney.

I purchased a chunky steak pie for hubby for $4.50 and a salad roll for me.

Omg tge temptations in their window , fresh cream buns, neenish tarts and jam donuts.

This was the one time I'm glad that taking Ozempic has taken away my appetite

Our wonderful, old fashioned cake shop that has been around since the 1950s as a family business, have only recently put the prices to $5.50, best pies ever. I have noticed that over the last year that they have cut their hours of opening and no longer have the vast array of goods on offer. The owner was telling me that people have cut the luxury of buying cakes and they are now struggling to stay afloat. It is so hard for small businesses to stay open with the increasing cost of living. Unfortunately the big supermarkets are taking over with inferior but cheaper product. Over the last few years we have lost our butchers, florist, deli and fruit store, as they simply can not compete with the local Woolworths prices. It is happening every where.
True. I would buy the Herbert Adam’s pies instead
 
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