[lhysen]

I was in NZ 3 weeks ago and bought some mild cheddar, wanted sharp but they didn't carry it. I was so glad to make a burrito with cheese, and the first bite I thought I forgot to put it in. The problem was the cheese had relatively no flavor. I paid $9.00 for tasteless cheese.

My question is why is the cheese so expensive and bland?

I just came from my grocery store in Portland Oregon and bought NZ cheese, the same size but aged sharp cheddar for $3.99. How could it come all that way and cost almost a third less and have taste?

Economy of scale just doesn't seem to explain this one, it just looks like they are gouging the NZ people.

Bob

[neilw71]

What does "sharp" mean? Never heard that phrase when talking about cheese!

Neil

[Carol]

the price has gone through the roof to the udder side recently!
something to do with milk....

[ellenmelon]

that question is on the list of "questions we might never know the answer too", along with the meaning of life, and where socks go when you swear that you put the pair in the wash. :D

i know what you mean by sharp. it has a tang to it...lovely :) thats why i buy tasty.

[Leccy-Lee]

I have actually found in my local store that the cheese from the Deli counter is both nicer and cheaper than the pre-packed stuff. Surprised it was cheaper but its very nice. (Mature smooth creamy swiss style cheese...... it was labelled as)

[Moorf]

Most of the bigger supermarkets have a "good" range of cheeses - usually displayed seperately from the fridge area. It is getting bloomin' expensive - for the first time ever I decided to buy a "NZ Parmesan" rather than a proper Parmesan because the wee triangle of Reggiano was priced around $30!!! Usually it's about $20

[peebles16]

I'm gobsmacked by the price of cheese here :yes As a family we love cheese of all sorts but have to we had to ration our intake here and it's fast becoming a treat :( That said I've had some fantastic tasting treats so far in NZ and good, varied choice available..

Karenx

[incredible hulse]

Yep - cheese prices are a bit of a killer. Must say bought loads when back in the UK last year and had a few cheese and biscuit sessions! Another one to add to the why so expensive list; carpets. For a country swamped by sheep how wool carpet is the price it is I'll never know

[Moorf]

carpets.

Hell yeah! It's extortionate.

Bread's on the rise too....

[Milliemoo]

Bread's on the rise too....

:D

Milliemoo

[Wahlet]

Could it be explained by saying that NZ exports so much of its agricultural products (cheese, fruit, wool...) that there is a shortage for Kiwis and therefore prices go up? Is it due to countries like the US having such a large economy of scale?

Somebody must know the answer. :)

[incredible hulse]

Bread's on the rise too....

Not a problem, us poms have loads of dough

[andy141]

for the first time ever I decided to buy a "NZ Parmesan" rather than a proper Parmesan because the wee triangle of Reggiano was priced around $30!!!

So did it taste much different to the 'proper' Parmezziano?

[Moorf]

Surprisingly not! :D Especially when grated over pasta etc....

[Sam B]

We buy big blocks of imported parmesan from the European deli in Cambridge. It blows the food budget, but I hate the NZ stuff, it's bland and turns to the consistency of chewing gum if heated. However, if money gets any tighter, we may have to go without soon.

[Familyofmonkeys]

OH been doing more of the food shopping in the evenings recently. He started complaining the price of cheese had gone up a stupid amount recently in New World/Pak 'n' Save and started bringing home only a 500g $8.99 block for the week. Not sure how he thinks that is enough for 5 people for the week when he is using half of the block for his own packed lunches :confused:
So I was very pleased to find 1kg Blocks of veggie cheddar for $9.99 (budget range...pretty good and had some taste to it) in both FoodTown and Woolworths last weekend:)

[LesleyS]

Can someone explain the 'real' reason why milk and cheese are so expensive here considering that 'dairy' is a big part of NZ farming culture? Milk is more expensive than the UK Canada and the US now (allegedly)!!!!

[benandclare]

Can someone explain the 'real' reason why milk and cheese are so expensive here considering that 'dairy' is a big part of NZ farming culture? Milk is more expensive than the UK Canada and the US now (allegedly)!!!!


I think it's due to the booming market in China and India for dairy products and NZ is satisfying this demand but a consequence is that the home market is left short so demand rises and therefore price.

A very simplistic view

Ssh you didnt hear this from me but buy home brand milk it's exactly same as all the others:nice1

[willsken]

Another one to add to the why so expensive list; carpets. For a country swamped by sheep how wool carpet is the price it is I'll never know

I was shocked at how much they cost, just can't see any reason for it at all. And paint..... now you've got me started! :exit

[IanW99]

Can someone explain the 'real' reason why milk and cheese are so expensive here considering that 'dairy' is a big part of NZ farming culture? Milk is more expensive than the UK Canada and the US now (allegedly)!!!!

All dairy produce is now sold on the global market so each country pays the same amount.

For goods coming from NZ the cost is meant to be the global market price minus transport costs so in theory at least they should be cheaper in NZ than other countries.

The cost is now expensive everywhere not just in NZ, for example just did a cost comparison between Asda in the UK and Countdown in NZ where Asda cost was NZ$3.35 (assuming an exchange rate of 2.5) and Countdown NZ$2.93. Of course the lower wages in NZ mean that it is actually more expensive in NZ in real terms.

Ian

[benandclare]

Here's an interesting article on the subject

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/dairy-producers-milk-global-demand/2007/09/04/1188783235788.html


Wish my wages for delivering the stuff would go up too :nice1

[lockstock]

I think the high price of cheese is due to a couple of things. Firstly the drought in the Waikato. Farmers are drying cows off (ie stopping milking them) because there isn't enough grass growing in this normally lush dairy area. Those that continue to milk are having to buy in fodder normally fed in the colder winter months. (info straight from a frustrated dairy farmer friend).
Secondly and possibly more significantly, people in Asia - traditionally a rice, meat and veg diet - have developed a taste for the Westen dairy diet and the demand for the product over there is high. It's the age old supply and demand thing. Everyone wants a price of a decreasing pie.

[Carol]

Apparantly - rice is next.....set to sky rocket...

[Carol]

And paint..... now you've got me started! :exit


Supposedly it's even cheaper in Fiji!


And I wouldnt mind but I've never ONCE got a decent brand YET!
Even the famous "Resene" is like B & Q's surplus watered down with turps.

[incredible hulse]

All dairy produce is now sold on the global market so each country pays the same amount.

For goods coming from NZ the cost is meant to be the global market price minus transport costs so in theory at least they should be cheaper in NZ than other countries.

The cost is now expensive everywhere not just in NZ, for example just did a cost comparison between Asda in the UK and Countdown in NZ where Asda cost was NZ$3.35 (assuming an exchange rate of 2.5) and Countdown NZ$2.93. Of course the lower wages in NZ mean that it is actually more expensive in NZ in real terms.

Ian
As Ian says milk is commodity market based so the raw material price across countries is consistent. That said there is a lot of pressure in NZ on Fronterra as they seem to be adding a fair amount of profit on making the milk here very expensive to the consumer

[benandclare]

Dont forget the supermarkets taking their cut too, for an example couple of years back in the UK we sold our potatoes to Asda for around £100 per ton and same potatoes appeared on shelves at around £400 per ton !!!!!!!!!!

[Radders]

The price of dairy products is fixed on the open (ie international market) Fonterra for example could quite easily sell all of its dairy produce off shore, so to keep some of it here we have to pay the asking price. The bland cheese you bought was probably mild or colby which alot of people like for some reason. Its the same stuff as Tasty, just not matured. What gets me is that we have been paying high prices for tasty cheese that has been maturing for at least 18 months depending on what you buy. When the petrol boys put their prices up straight away, we all complain that they are still selling the stuff they bought before the price went up. Well what about the cheese makers!!!!!

[benandclare]

Had to put some cheese into a dairy today and the wholesale price is the same as it was 3 months ago , have no idea why :uhoh

[marcia]

We just have to grin and bear it - we have a house full of cheese freaks, they'd go mad if I didn't buy it. I like edamand the other 'mice' like the tasty cheese - 'get the one in the red wrapper mum!' But I do miss the variety we got in the uk - I'd love some red leicester, or Double gloucester!! :(

[Carol]

I'd love some red leicester, or Double gloucester!! :(



*dribble*


or Stilton...... or Caerphilly.... oh dear.

[zardell]

Hey - you think you got problems ????

Roquefort at our local deli is $89.99, yes, that's eighty nine, ninety nine a kilo !

:no

Needless to say, I managed without.

I think that food overall is dearer here than NZ and don't get me started on the quality of the fruit and veg - absolutely appalling.

Julie

xx

[LesleyS]

Where can you buy decent Parmesan here? The stuff in a wrapped block from New World aint it, by any stretch of the imagination!

[benandclare]

We like the the Special Reserve sold in Fresh Choice, which is same group as Countdown and Woolworths

[BlueDevil]

You are not alone:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4423779a1861.html
"The luxury of 1kg of Tasty cheese"

And just as interesting, the replies:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4424012a4621.html

[swissmissdesigner]

for the second link I don't get anything..
anyone has the same problem?

[kowhai]

Where can you buy decent Parmesan here? The stuff in a wrapped block from New World aint it, by any stretch of the imagination!

Try the Mediterranean shop. 68 John Street , Tauranga. :nice1

[Sam B]

Hey - you think you got problems ????

Roquefort at our local deli is $89.99, yes, that's eighty nine, ninety nine a kilo !

:no

Needless to say, I managed without.

I think that food overall is dearer here than NZ and don't get me started on the quality of the fruit and veg - absolutely appalling.

Julie

xx

Really Julie? Why is the fruit and veg poor quality do you think? Tell me more...

PS Lesley - If you're over in Cambridge, you can get very good real parmesan from Dantes on Duke Street.

[Wahlet]

Just came across this.


Businesses exporting goods and services from New Zealand are entitled to "zero-rate" their products - effectively, they charge GST at zero percent. This permits the business to claim back the input GST but the eventual, non-New Zealand based consumer does not pay the tax (businesses that produce GST-exempt supplies are not able to claim back input GST.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goods_and_Services_Tax_(New_Zealand)

This could play into the reason why NZ food prices are high...this GST export incentive would motivate producers to ship overseas rather than distribute in NZ...

[zardell]

[quote=Sam B;199631]Really Julie? Why is the fruit and veg poor quality do you think? Tell me more...
quote]




Sorry Sam, only just seen this.

Poor quality in the respect that it's damaged, bruised or just old.

Dunno really - maybe they export the best? Maybe it's the way that it's delivered to the shops or the way it's handled or stored in the shops.

And $9.99 for a kilo of parsnips........PURLEEZE.

Since my last posting, I have found a good (relatively local) greengrocer, so fingers crossed.

It's just a pain when all I want to do is pick up fruit and veg at my local supermarket.

Julie

xx