Hands off our pies and bridies!
Gary Fitzpatrick • Published 13 Apr 2012 06:02
9 Comments
WEST Fife connoisseurs of tasty take-away snacks are joining forces to warn Chancellor George Osborne - hands off our steak bridies!
The 'pasty tax' has caused ructions across the country and in Dunfermline there could be an impact on sales of some popular, freshly-baked delicacies.
Stephens the Bakers' boss Andre Sarafilovic slammed the 20 per cent VAT rate on bridies, pies and sausage rolls announced in the budget as "ludicrous" and "unworkable".
Stephens and other bakers are organising a campaign to try to change the minds of the Government.
The controversial move would hit millions of workers grabbing a lunchtime snack.
Mr Sarafilovic told Press Online, "This was a complete bolt from the blue. There was no consultation with the industry before this was announced. The HMRC kept this to themselves.
"The price of a bridie is currently £1.33 and this would put another 27p on that overnight.
"It's bad for business, bad for the customer. Take-away food like pies and bridies are hardly a luxury item.
"Customers have been badly hit by rising food costs over recent times and that had just started to level out when we got this.
"It's ludicrous. They talk about the food being over the ambient temperature but is that of the shop or the temperature outside?
"In our business we bake little and often to keep our products fresh. The shop assistant would have to decide whether the pie or bridie is above the ambient temperature or whether it's dropped below that.
"We hope that we can make them change their minds over this and customers can back the campaign through an e-petition.
"I've looked at the small print and it seems that if a customer buys an item then heats it up in the shop's microwave then they don't have to pay tax. You'll see that at petrol stations but it's not a road we'd go down."
The UK Government caused an outcry when they announced the new tax in the budget with Prime Minister David Cameron quickly claiming to be a fan of Cornish pasties.
However, George Osborne admitted he couldn't remember the last time he had been to a Greggs shop when quizzed by a committee of MPs.
The e-petition was started by the National Association of Master Bakers and Greggs customers can also show their displeasure at the price hike by signing a petition in their branches, which has now been backed by over 200,000 people.
Dunfermline Labour MP Thomas Docherty admitted he was a regular customer of Greggs and a fan of cheese and onion pasties.
"Apparently the Major Government considered doing this years ago but when they looked into it they dropped it because it was such a stupid idea," said Mr Docherty.
"How are they planning to impose this? Are we going to have HMRC inspectors carrying out spot checks on the temperature of bridies?"
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 12 Apr 12
Have your say. Post a comment on this article.
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ChuckD
65 posts
Apr 14, 13:55
Report commentCouldn't care less about Greggs and their dubious meat content. MP Tommy Doch should switch and try the Stephens birdies, it'll blow his mind and get him to do something about this.
Also, shouldn't he be supporting local business instead of sending more money down south..
Recommend?
Yes 12
No 18
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jollymolly
95 posts
Apr 16, 14:44
Report commentAndre Sarafilovic "The price of a bridie is currently £1.33" " bad" " bad"
far to expensive especially as they getting smaller and less steak in them.
so bring your prices down....
and you would not have ask your customers to back a daft campaign through an e-petition.
Recommend? Yes 39
No 10
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pitcorthiemiss
10 posts
Apr 17, 17:06
Report comment#jollymolly / lydiaspotty / triksell / whichever identity you're using this week:
Please try to use proper grammar and spelling in your posts, especially when slagging people off.
Now let's play a little game: make up a simple sentence using the following list of words and see how you get on, it's not too difficult, I'm sure you'll agree.
slagging, off, when, I, must, grammar, use, proper, and, spelling, people, always.
We're waiting.......................................................... ;-)
Recommend? Yes 12
No 40
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jollymolly
95 posts
Apr 18, 12:01
Report commentpitcorthie misses "WHO" / "WHAT"
Your comments regarding what identity I am using using.
start by looking at how many posts I have.......
Also what is this to do with the price of the Rubbish Bridies
Recommend? Yes 36
No 12
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pitcorthiemiss
10 posts
Apr 18, 14:39
Report commentMy oh my, you can press the 'No' button as many times as you like, but the fact remains about your atrocious grammar and spelling, especially when slagging people off. It's evident in your 'comments' on other threads too.
Now come on, instead of getting all defensive, why don't you try the simple little game I devised especially for you? I've ensured that it's especially easy.
Still waiting......................................................... ;-)
Recommend? Yes 15
No 27
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jollymolly
95 posts
Apr 18, 14:54
Report commentpitcorthiemisspelller
Go on then where is my spelling went wrong.
spell it out then.
Recommend? Yes 26
No 15
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jollymolly
95 posts
Apr 18, 22:01
Report commentpitcorthiemisspelller
Still waiting......................................................... ;-)
Recommend? Yes 24
No 6
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Mikeintheknow
37 posts
Apr 19, 16:29
Report commentGeggs is in trouble because there found a loop hole, If you visit Stephens etc you will found Two prices, one for hot and one for cold:
Can someone tell me how the price would go up if Hot prices already has VAT?
Recommend? Yes 0
No 8
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redrobin
296 posts
Apr 19, 20:55
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