Why high Bak Kwa (pork jerky) prices?
This picture was take in 2012 from Fragrance Foodstuff's Chinatown shop in Singapore.
As of 2013, the price for 1kg of Bak Kwa has risen to S$50.00 or about US$18.00/LB.
This picture was taken in 2012 from Bee Cheng Hiang's Chinatown shop in Singapore.
As of 2013 the price for 1kg of Bak Kwa has risen to S$50 or about US$18/LB.
The different in Bak Kwa prices between US and Singapore boils down to two major factors:
1) Cost of Labor -
In Singapore, affordable foreign workers (mainly from Indonesia or the Philippines) keeps prices generally low, as oppose to US workers on hourly rates + benefits + insurance...
2) Meat Prices -
With China buying up major pork producers like Smithfield Foods, meat prices have continued to rise with no end in sight. Wholesale beef round cut prices have also risen 40% since the end of 2013.
http://money.cnn.com/2013/05/29/news/companies/smithfield-foods/
