A Leeds kebab takeaway manager has said stock prices have doubled “because of Covid and Brexit”.
Baber Ullah, 24, who works in Abaseen in Harehills Lane, says the shop faces “tough” times as the community “does not buy expensive food.”
The takeaway currently sells fast-food at budget prices – with the cheapest burger coming at £2.20 - to the deprived community.
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Baber, from Pakistan who’s lived in Leeds for five years, says this is likely to change soon with weekly stock prices rising from about '£400 to £800'.
Baber said: “Everything is so expensive. We are a family business, I help with everything, it’s my cousin’s business and he’s on holiday.
“Everything is that much more expensive. For example, we used to pay £400 a week on stock and now it’s £800.
“It’s going up because of Covid and Brexit. It’s been tough since after this pandemic, everything has gone up. That’s the problem we’ve got and the prices are going to get higher.
“Now we think we’ll upgrade the shop, do some work and then open with new prices with new things.
“The community does not buy expensive food.”
In the Gipton and Harehills ward, 15.7 of the population rely on out-of-work benefits - one of the areas with the highest percentage of people receiving benefits.
Baber says he takes pity on the hungry and needy and will give them a free meal if they come asking.
He said: “If someone comes in and needs food, tells us they’re hungry, we give it to them for free – no price.”
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The Harehills Lane area is currently under increased antisocial-behaviour laws, with a drinking ban in place which could see street drinkers given six-month prison sentences.
Baber says the situation has much improved since December, when these strengthen laws came into effect with less drunk troublemakers visiting the shop.
He said: “Now the area is clean. The police worked very hard. Drunk people used to come inside, shout and everything. Now it’s clean, now it’s good.”
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