A GLASGOW cafe owner has told how the soaring cost of fresh rolls since Mortons ceased trading has left him with no option but to bake his own.
Fraser Bisley, who owns Bisley’s Bites, claims some suppliers have doubled their prices since the Drumchapel-based factory stopped production.
He’s now getting up at 5am daily to fire up his own - and says it was the only way to keep the business afloat.
He exclusively told the Glasgow Times: “When we opened seven years ago the price of a roll was 16p and then it crept up to 25p, which we were always happy to pay.
“However, now I’m being quoted 50p per roll, which is around double what it was before Mortons stopped delivering. Then, when you add on the cost of quality meat, which has also risen by 25%, it means the profit margin on a traditional roll and sausage is now very little."
Fraser says he does not want to increase his prices for fear of losing loyal customers.
He added: "Rolls are our staple and the most popular items on our menu, and pretty much the same for any business like ours. We also do a lot of deliveries to local firms, and I go through four dozen rolls Monday to Thursday, eight dozen on Friday and six dozen each on Saturday and Sunday.
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“So, for suppliers to want 50p per roll is just something I can’t really afford to do. We’ve always had fresh goods and buying from a supermarket isn’t a cost-effective solution either.
"It’s a case of trying to balance the books during a cost-of-living crisis where electricity and food prices have gone through the roof, making it very difficult for a small business like ours to keep our head above water.”
We previously told how bosses at Mortons Rolls sent a letter to staff on Friday saying that 250 employees were being 'laid off with immediate effect'.
Workers say they have been left in the dark, with still no contact from bosses, who are now more than nine weeks late with their annual accounts.
The Mortons Rolls factory remains closed today, with a number of delivery vans sitting in the car park, the gates locked and the lights out.
Fraser, who has run the eatery on Carbeth Road, says his heart goes out to those whose jobs have been left hanging in the balance.
READ MORE: Glasgow cafe owner speaks out after Mortons Rolls collapses
He added: “It’s a terrible situation and I know that some of these people have worked in the factory since they left school. Now they don’t know where their next pay packet is coming from.
“My heart goes out to them all and I just hope the jobs can be saved. The factory closing has had a ripple effect on many small businesses but it’s nothing compared to what Mortons staff are going through right now. It must be a very anxious time for all of them.
“I just hope a solution can be found that gets the factory up and running again as quickly as possible and people back into work."
Mortons Rolls has been approached by the Glasgow Times for comment but all of our calls and emails to the company have gone unanswered.
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