‘Un-Australian’: Single meat pie pic drives Aussies insane

Aussies are up in arms as another beloved snack falls victim to the cost of living crisis.

The cost of a humble meat and potato pie has left Aussies steaming as another beloved snack falls victim to the cost of living crisis.

Anger erupted after a social media user shared a photo on Reddit of steak and potato pies selling for the eye-watering price of $10.90.

“Meat pie inflation,” the Reddit user captioned the photo.

Each pie cost an eye-watering $10.90. Picture: Reddit

Many fed-up social media users were quick to slam the “un-Australian” price of the iconic snack.

“$10.90 for a f***ing pie! F*** OFF!” one person wrote.

“Yeah, you can keep your $10 pie,” said another.

“That’s UN-AUSTRALIAN,” another claimed.

“I don’t doubt that pies are more expensive for good reason. But I’m not paying 10 dollars for one,” another comment read.

“It’s weird how six bucks seems comparatively cheap now. Two years ago, I was outraged that pies were six dollars. 3.50 to 4.50 has always felt about right,” said another.

“I am guessing sauce is extra?” another quipped.

However, not everyone took an issue with the price.

Those in the food industry defended the business’ decision, with one baker noting it’s a sign of the times as ingredient prices “are rising just as quick as petrol/groceries”.

“Things like butter, yeast, flour, cheese and especially meat just seem to be creeping up every single week,” they wrote.

“However if you change too many ingredients to cheaper alternatives people start complaining, then if you don’t they’ll complain it’s too expensive. Only so much you can do.”

The baker said while their bakery is selling pies for about $6, they don’t “hold it against other bakeries for charging this much”.

“It’s an expensive business to run already and unfortunately we need to keep the lights on somehow. Frozen servo pies for you from now on if you don’t want to pay this much, unfortunately.”

One baker said the price of common ingredients have been “creeping up”. Picture: iStock

Another social media user, whose family owns a bakery, also defended the cost.

“My family has a bakery and we sell our pies at $6. Sometimes I go out and ask myself why is milk tea, coffee or a simple ham and chess sandwich costs more or roughly the same price as our pies? It requires less ingredients and time to make those. The amount of preparation to make a pie from scratch is time-consuming and requires way more ingredients. Raw ingredients are always increasing,” they wrote.

“We’re too afraid to increase our prices fearing customers might run away and there’s just so much competition out there now (Woolies/coles). We can’t compete with them hence I guess some bakeries need to do what they have to do. Maybe they just aren’t busy enough to keep the prices more reasonable.”

Coffee prices could soon soar

It come as cafe owners warn the price of another much-loved food and drink item could soar with Aussies possibly having to pay $7 for a flat white as businesses struggle to turn a profit in the current economic climate.

“The cost of living is crushing operators who generate tens of millions of dollars in (state) government revenue,” Brisbane-based industry leader Phillip Di Bella told The Courier Mail.

Mr Di Bella, the founder of the Coffee Commune, said the sector was on the verge of crisis, predicting some 2,000 operators will be forced to close within two years.

“We know everyone is doing it tough right now, so of course operators don’t want to be charging $7 for a flat white, but that will become the norm,” Mr Di Bella said.

“After expenses, businesses are making roughly $1 profit per coffee and the average store sells 300 coffees a day.

“Our members have families as well, so that is not a sustainable income.”

Cafe owners have warned coffee prices could soar again. Picture: iStock

High costs, inflation and tough competition have created a perfect storm, Gold Coast hospitality veteran, Lincoln Testa, also told the publication.

At Madisons Cafe in Broadbeach, which Mr Testa has operated for over 20 years, a flat white currently sets consumers back $5.20.

“Coffees should probably be selling for $8 given it is handcrafted and it takes two people to do and they are time-consuming, especially when having to do the alternative milks,” he said.

Mr Di Bella and Mr Testa are among those pleading for government intervention ahead of Queensland’s state election this month, suggesting measures like increasing the payroll tax thresholds and reforming industrial relations laws to keep businesses afloat.

Originally published as ‘Un-Australian’: Single meat pie pic drives Aussies insane