Manager of Halk Ekmek (Bread Factory): Bread runs out at kiosks but queues don’t stop

An executive from Halk Ekmek (Bread Production facility of Istanbul Municipality) said that they produced 2.6 million loaves a day, but they cannot keep up with the demand. In Istanbul, bread prices was raised to TL 2.5, while in some bakeries began to sell it for TL 3.5. Citizens who have low purchasing power sometimes have to wait in line to buy from Halk Ekmek, which is sold for 1 lira 25 kurus.

Speaking to media the executive said the increase in demand was a “clear picture” of poverty. Stating that they produced 2.6 million loaves per day with three factories working at full capacity, but could not keep up with the demand, the executive said: “We run out of bread at the kiosks, but the queues don’t stop. Even if there were 13 factories today, not three, we wouldn’t be able to produce 10 million loaves. These kiosks began to be put into operation in the 1970s. Since then, neither society has become so impoverished, nor have there been such queues at kiosks.”

The manager stated that the flour stocks were about to run out and they would have to make purchases at increased prices for the new year.