TOKYO, Feb 20 (News On Japan) –
Following final yr’s “Egg Shock,” there may be now concern over the current worth will increase of tomato merchandise resembling ketchup and complete tomatoes, with the time period “Tomato Shock” being utilized by some within the restaurant business to explain the brand new actuality.
At a standard Western-style restaurant in Tokyo, a well-liked dish made with loads of ketchup is being ready. The dish is omurice (omelet rice), with the ketchup’s candy and bitter style being a key taste.
Customer: “The acidity of the ketchup is just right, and it’s delicious.”
“It’s like the old Western-style restaurants, where simple is best.”
Other dishes, resembling Napolitan (spaghetti with ketchup) and hamburg steak with demi-glace sauce, additionally use ketchup. The restaurant makes use of about 10 kilograms of ketchup per day. However…
Kasahara Masahiro, Manager of Restaurant Shiratsuyu: “The purchasing price has been gradually increasing, and it’s becoming quite difficult. If ketchup prices keep rising we’re headed for a ‘Tomato Shock.'”
In a grocery store in Tokyo, the impression on retail costs is already evident.
Gomi Mamoru, President of Super Izumi: “Products related to tomatoes are expensive. Most of them have gone up. This has never happened before.”
This grocery store has raised the retail worth of tomato ketchup by about 30 yen in comparison with final yr, and the value of canned tomatoes by about 40 yen.
Several producers have additionally introduced worth will increase. Kagome has raised the value of family tomato ketchup by as much as 16.4% and tomato juice by as much as 13.6% from the February supply. Kikkoman Foods will elevate the value of Del Monte model tomato ketchup and different merchandise by about 7-15% from the April supply, and sauces containing tomato as an ingredient can even see a worth improve of about 5%.
The worth improve of tomato merchandise, that are indispensable to our diets, is critical. According to Teikoku Databank, about 160 objects of “processed tomato products” have seen worth will increase this month alone.
Why are worth will increase taking place at the moment?
Fujii Shun, Director of Information Coordination Department, Teikoku Databank: “Most of the tomatoes used for processing, over 90%, are imported. The quality of the imported tomatoes was poor, and there was a low yield.”
We heard from folks on the road. We met a pair who each love ketchup.
Husband: “I love ketchup so much that I can eat it on its own. I usually pour it thick on my omurice.”
They burn up two bottles a month, however…
Husband: “It’s putting pressure on the household budget. It’s frustrating…”
At the grocery store…
Customer: “I buy the advertised products when they’re on sale.”
“I heard that the prices are going up, so I thought I’d buy a little extra than usual.”
How far will the value improve of tomato merchandise unfold?
Source: NNN