Bunnings sausage sandwich the latest victim of inflation

It’s been around for longer than most can remember and cost the same amount for as long as most can remember. But this is the last Saturday you’ll get the iconic Bunning sausage for $2.50. Next week, they’ll be $3.50.

It’s the first price increase in 15 years and follows significant feedback from community groups, not-for-profits and charities across Australia.

It turns out the rising cost of supplies required to run the sausage sizzle – sausages, bread, onions, sauce, oil and drinks – is beginning to seriously eat into fundraising profits.

Over the years, the Tuggeranong Men’s Shed has held countless sausage sizzle fundraisers outside their local Bunnings store and welcomed the news.

“Will we sell less? Yes. But will we make more profit? Quite likely.”

President Keith Gibly said spinning snags outside Bunnings was the Shed’s biggest fundraising event for years.

“We have a very good relationship with Tuggeranong Bunnings and when there are any cancellations in their booking roster, they let us know.”

During the school holidays, members could often be found out there five days a week.

“On a bad day, profit might be $500, but on a good day, between $1500 to $2000. That’s not bad at all for a day’s work.”

However, Keith said that in the last 12 to 18 months, inflation and shortages have hit the shelves at grocery stores and the profit margin has plummeted.

“A loaf of bread has gone from 95 cents to $1.30 and sausages from $7.50 to $11 and they’re the two principal costs in a sausage sizzle.”

He said the price rise will help, even if “people who are hard up will be less inclined to buy”.

The new price of $3.50 applies for a sausage in bread, with or without onions. The cost of drinks will remain at $1.50. Every cent raised goes directly to the community group running the BBQ.

The Bunnings sausage sizzle has provided grassroots community groups like the Tuggeranong Men’s Shed with a simple way to raise funds for 25 years. In the past five years alone, stores across Australia have hosted more than 155,000 sausage sizzles and raised more than $140 million.

The store manages a booking roster and provides everything required to set up and run the BBQ at no cost, including a gas bottle, marquee and mobile payment option.

The prices are set by Bunnings to ensure the BBQ experience is the same for customers and community groups, no matter the store.

Bunnings Group managing director Mike Schneider said the change has been made in response to feedback from more than 100 volunteer groups across Australia.

“We know that the sausage sizzle has been a vital fundraising opportunity, helping many groups big and small stay afloat over the years,” he said.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult couple of years with the lack of fundraising opportunities and the pressure on community group services and support continues to be a growing need in our wider community.”

Mick said Bunnings is committed to making sure community groups can keep doing their essential work.

The change comes into effect at all Bunnings stores from Saturday, 23 July.