Sliced Bread Makers In The U.K. Buffeted By Ill Winds

Several trends have combined to make life miserable for British makers of sliced bread. Health-conscious shoppers are choosing fresh-baked and whole-grain breads over packaged sliced loaves. There’s been a 14 percent drop in packed school lunches. The price war among retail supermarket chains has pushed the price of premium manufactured loaves downward. As a result, the U.K. bread market has declined $190 million. The upside of this phenomenon has been the easing of food prices for cash-strapped shoppers. Bread prices have dropped an average of 15p ($0.24) for a large loaf.