"Record-breaking" demand expected at Dudley baby bank - despite Aptamil price cut

A foodbank in Dudley is warning of "record-breaking" demand this month, despite a fall in the price of a baby formula brand.

Danone have cut the price of Aptamil by 7% after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the cost had increased by 25% over the past two years.

The CMA also said baby formula was particularly vulnerable to higher-than-inflation price rises.

But the Founder and Project Manager of the Brierley Hill Baby Bank, Maz Page, told Free Radio "there's still a way to go" to ease financial pressures facing parents.

"We are noticing an increase in demand," Ms Page said, adding it feels wrong prices were increasing as "we got families coming to us when they are struggling to simply feed their babies."

Supermarkets do not have to pass on the fall in price to consumers.

But Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Iceland have announced they would cut prices

Asda also said that parents would be allowed to use their rewards scheme to pay for baby formula for the first time.

Parents of babies under 1 year old are also eligible for Healthy Start Vouchers of £8.50 per week if they receive a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit.

But Ms Page said that rising inflation has meant this no longer covers the cost of the cheapest products.

She added working parents are not eligible, and that's been reflected in demand at Brierley Hill.

"We have 50% of our families that do come in looking for formula feed, that don't get those get Healthy Start vouchers, that they're both working full-time, and have incredible childcare costs."