Lincolnshire bakery joins 'pasty tax' protest march on Downing Street
A WITHERN bakery joined a march on Downing Street in protest at the introduction of the 'pasty tax'.
The Government is planning to introduce VAT on products in bakeries that are heated to bring them in line with other hot takeaway foods, like fish and chips.
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VOICES HEARD: The Pocklington family, from left, Chris Pocklington, Chris's daughter Hollie in a gingerbread man suit and Tina Pocklington, his wife who protested about the "pasty tax."
The owners of Pocklingtons Bakery Ltd believe the 20 per cent VAT will deter customers from buying their hot pasties, pies and sausage rolls at a time of economic hardship for many.
Chris Pocklington, 47, his wife Tina, 54, and daughter Hollie, 19, run the bakery chain which was established in 1924.
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Mr Pocklington said: "It is the wrong time to be putting 20 per cent VAT on pies, sausage rolls and pasties.
"Footfall in the high street is down and people are spending less on everything, including food.
"Most of the customers we have spoken to have said they are not going to pay an extra 20p for a £1 pasty.
"We are going to face the situation where a customer comes in to buy a sausage roll and he can either buy a cold one for £1 or a hot one that is two hours fresher than the cold one for £1.20 – despite being exactly the same product that has been through exactly the same processes."
The family joined other bakers from across the UK taking part in the march, including the High Street chain Greggs.
They also handed in a petition, signed by several hundred of their customers, to Downing Street.
A Treasury spokeswoman said the Government was closing a loophole in VAT payments.
She said: "The Budget closes loopholes and addresses anomalies to ensure a level playing field, including on hot takeaway food.
"In fact, VAT is already paid on over 90 per cent of all hot takeaway food."
Comments
by vpire
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 1:29PM
“If they are really that bothered, then reduce the price by 20%”
by eatmygoal
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 1:21PM
“Completely agree with the majority on here. Greggs, the massive chain that has 100s of units throughout the UK, now have to add VAT to their hot products, just like those single chain little fish and chip shops. Not really sure what is unfair about that.
Pete, when you shut the shop, what methods will you be employing to stop someone else starting one up and taking all your customers and happily paying the extra tax?”
by AnnNom
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 12:49PM
“Really? Which piece was it?”
by Pete67
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 12:15PM
“FreedomSpeech . - - - - - . Don't believe me then I don't really care one way or the other. If you actually knew me you'd know I mean what I say. I've never owned a firm, but I'd do just the same as I have with jobs (no matter how good the pay or liked them). I have principles, and on the last two before I retired I just went. Maybe I lost a bit of money in the process (though it equalled out in the long run), but I went with piece of mind.”
by FreedomSpeech
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 11:53AM
“"Stop whinging, we all have to pay our taxes including all the fish and chip shops and all the other hot food outlets. Why should you be any different then? You should be looking at it in a positve way; you have got away without paying tax on your hot food for years and saved a lot of money in the processs. Now that the taxman has caught up with you then your are spitting your dummy out and you are having a hissy fit. Boo Hoo. Grow up..."
The retailers haven't "got away without paying tax", they just haven't had to charge it on their product. It isn't them picking up the tab, it's the customer, albeit it may affect sales in some small way.
"If I were selling the things that are affected by this idiotic tax I'd quick solve the problem. I might be called biting off your nose to spite your face, but I'd just shut up shop completely and cost the Country a lot more than what they'd make on this pathetic idea."
Sorry, but I don't believe you.”
by M_C_Donald
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 11:49AM
“This isn't a tax on goods that are intended to be sold cold may have just come out of the oven, but is to bring food that is sold as hot into line with all take-a-way food.”
by wakey666
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 11:40AM
“If a pasty (you cant say Cornish as its got meat in it and dosent come from Cornwall) is priced at say £1.00. Put the price up by 10p and go halves on the VAT with the customer. Better stiil; since you manufacture the pasty yourself absorb the cost yourselves. Its not as if you dont make a massive profit anyway is it...I have tasted this company's pastys thats why I go to Mr Chips instead.”
by ThornyRay
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 11:14AM
“2 questions really. Firstly, why the outrage? So you pay VAT on hot food, big deal! It's not like it's increasing the price of something that is good for you and healthy, It's fatty, salty greasy rubbish, if you don't want to pay an extra 20p for a pasty because it's hot, may I suggest you switch to something that may not lead to Heart Disease, blocked artery's and increase the pressure on the NHS.
Secondly, Why a ginger bread man? Your protesting about a 'Pastie Tax'”
by Pete67
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 10:30AM
“by babybell4 - Wednesday, May 02 2012, 8:41AM
. - - - - - . I see by your reds there must be plenty rich around here who just love paying all these extra taxes (or are they the ones who just got a 5% tax cut). If I were selling the things that are affected by this idiotic tax I'd quick solve the problem. I might be called biting off your nose to spite your face, but I'd just shut up shop completely and cost the Country a lot more than what they'd make on this pathetic idea. While people do what he wants he'll just take more and more - they always do. I expect reds so don't feel bad when you give one.”
by wakey666
Wednesday, May 02 2012, 10:05AM
“I am from the area in which this company hail from. Like everyone else I personally I think that if they can afford for three of them to all take the time off work and to travel down to London and have a gripe about paying VAT on hot food then if they all have this amount of money to spare then they can afford to pay their VAT cant they! Stop whinging, we all have to pay our taxes including all the fish and chip shops and all the other hot food outlets. Why should you be any different then? You should be looking at it in a positve way; you have got away without paying tax on your hot food for years and saved a lot of money in the processs. Now that the taxman has caught up with you then your are spitting your dummy out and you are having a hissy fit. Boo Hoo. Grow up...”