Bakery association mounts campaign agaisnt 20% pie tax

In announcing plans to change the VAT rules on freshly baked, hot pies, pasties and other savouries, which would increase by 20% the cost of some of the nation’s favourite and most affordable foods to families already suffering budget constraints, The Chancellor, George Osborne, has angered craft bakers across the country who fear for the resulting loss of sales and the effects on their businesses.

In response to The Chancellor’s announcement and in support of their members, The National Association of Master Bakers (NAMB) is mounting a campaign to ensure that this proposal is dropped from ministerial plans before it can become law in October 2012.

Mike Holling, Chairman of NAMB, said: “We have until May 4 to make the government see how this price increase will effect ordinary people and how unmanageable the implementation of the tax will be; concentrating as it does on the relative hotness of the product in comparison to the ambient temperature in the baker’s shop.

“The Association believe the proposal is ill conceived and poorly thought through making it open to mis-interpretation. It will be confusing for both bakery staff and consumers who will see it as an unfair tax.

“If we are to halt this unpalatable tax, that will affect the majority of craft bakers, it is essential that we create a united front to deliver a clear, precise and comprehensive argument to the Treasury and in order to do this, and fully represent our members interests, the NAMB are preparing a serious and potentially legal challenge to the proposal.

For more information go to www.masterbakers.co.uk