STORY: Bakers urged to trial affordability schemes for Sourdough September

Bakers, retailers, and caterers are being encouraged to trial affordability schemes for Sourdough September by the Real Bread Campaign.

The Real Bread Campaign has acknowledged that one obstacle to making 'Real Bread For All' is the gap between what it costs a small bakery to make bread and what people in their community on lower incomes can afford.

That's why in order to mark the 10th annual, international Sourdough September, the campaign is encouraging bakeries and retailers to try out ways of subsidising at least one line of sourdough bread to offer it to people on lower incomes at a reduced price – with a suggested price in the region of £2 for a large loaf and £1 for a small one.

An alternative is for bakers to issue vouchers, giving customers a choice which loaf they buy at a discounted price.

“We understand that this will be a challenge for some bakeries, especially with the price of everything skyrocketing," says Real Bread Campaign coordinator Chris Young.

"We hope that some will give it a go and that people in their local communities will be supportive of schemes to help neighbours who’re having a tougher time of it.”

Ways a business might fund the subsidy/discount include:

• Pay it forward scheme: A customer pays for two loaves, with half of the money going into the scheme.
• Inviting every customer to pay an optional 50p-£1, perhaps just on purchases of particular items.
• Reviewing all pricing, increasing margins on ‘luxury’ / discretionary purchases (eg coffee, pastries) to fund the subsidy.

The Campaign is leaving it up to each participating business to decide how many pieces they subsidise, pricing and how often during the month they are available.

The Campaign encourages participants to be transparent to customers about what they’re doing in support of people on lower incomes, why and how.

Sourdough on the menu

Young also notes that bread from many culinary heritages can be made using a sourdough process, including injera, aish/eish shamsi, and doli ki roti, for example.

A low-cost (or even free at the point of provision) meal served by a school, hospital, prison, forces, or services canteen is the main one of the day for some people.

As such, the Campaign has always encouraged public sector caterers to put sourdough, or other Real Bread, on their menus, and secured recognition for caterers doing so in the Food For Life Served Here scheme.

Bakeries, retailers, and caterers planning to trial (or already running) an affordable sourdough (or other Real Bread) scheme are invited to email details to the Campaign coordinator to help inform and inspire others: [email protected].

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