Online Reporter
The total income generated by South Africa’s food and beverages industry decreased by 0,7 percent in June 2025 compared with June 2024, as inflation bites into wallets, Statistics South Africa data shows.
Bar sales recorded the largest negative annual growth at minus 4,3 percent. Statistics South Africa’s numbers are based on constant 2019 prices, which strips out inflation in the value of items sold and is a better comparison.
Restaurants and coffee shop sales fell by 2,2 percent.
Month-on-month, seasonally adjusted income for the food and beverages industry fell by 4,1 percent in June 2025 compared with May 2025, following increases of 2,6 percent in May and 0,4 percent in April, Statistics South Africa reported.
Household food budgets are under pressure as food and non-alcoholic beverages (NAB) inflation accelerated to 5,7 percent in July, up from 5.1 percent in June, Statistics South Africa said recently.
Meat, vegetables, and other food items drove the increase, with beef remaining the main contributor.
Beef prices rose by 28,8 percent over the past 12 months, reaching R123.87 per kilogram for stewing beef and R126.79 ($7,13) for beef mince in July, Statistics South Africa reported.
Vegetable inflation quickened to 14,6 percent year-on-year, although prices for carrots, lettuce, and tomatoes declined slightly between June and July, Statistics South Africa said.
Prices in the ‘other food products’ category, including salad dressing, vinegar, mixed spices, and soup powder, also rose above the overall food and NAB inflation rate, Statistics South Africa reported.
Some categories recorded slower inflation.
Hot beverages eased to 8,9 percent annual inflation in July, while instant coffee prices declined slightly, Statistics South Africa said recently.
The dairy and eggs category remained in deflationary territory, though cheese prices continued to rise, with gouda up 7,2 percent and cheddar 5,5 percent compared with a year ago, Statistics South Africa reported. — IOL
Peter Tanyanyiwa