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<\/p>\nSmaller and independent supermarkets say they are facing increased pressure to keep grocery prices stable as the cost of keeping shelves full continues to rise.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Increased costs of fuel and fertiliser as a result of trade disruptions in the Middle East have impacted farmers and suppliers, who have passed hikes on to supermarkets.<\/p>\n
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Independent retail chain Drakes Supermarkets has seen suppliers’ costs jump due to rising fuel prices. (ABC News: Michael Clements)<\/p>\n
Drakes director, John-Paul Drake, said he had seen more extra charges from suppliers over the past month.<\/p>\n
“Suppliers have been looking at making sure their costs are covered,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They’ve been looking at all sorts of different ways to put a fuel tax, a surtax, a fuel levy, call it whatever you want.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“We are seeing a few interesting things coming up on invoices.”Holding strong<\/p>\n
Despite extra costs, Mr Drake said his business, which operates across South Australia and Queensland, had chosen not to pass on the costs to consumers.<\/p>\n
“We are doing everything that we can to make sure we hold down the pricing,” he said.<\/p>\n
“In the scheme of things, it’s only a small percentage that is in the whole cost of our doing business.”<\/p>\n
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Many smaller retailers do not have the resources to keep paying increased costs from suppliers. (ABC South East SA: Josh Brine)<\/p>\n
Mr Drake said he wanted the government to be more transparent about fuel supplies to help better inform businesses and consumers.<\/p>\n
“The fact that people are concerned, worried and panic buying \u2014 it’s all because we don’t have that certainty,” he said.<\/p>\n
“If we just had some transparency, we might not be in this place where people are panicking to buy fuel [or] worrying that it’s going to run out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Let’s face it, we’re not going to run out of fuel.”More news from regional SAIndependent retailers hit first<\/p>\n
Master Grocers Australia Independent Businesses Australia director Lincoln Wymer said smaller supermarkets had been absorbing increased delivery fees from suppliers since fuel prices jumped weeks ago.<\/p>\n
“The big one’s been the increase in the minimum delivery cost,” he said.<\/p>\n
“Before, they might have been $200. They’re now saying we’re not sending it unless it’s a $500 order now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“That’s really hurting the small suppliers because sometimes we don’t need to spend that much money on their products.”![\"Lincoln](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0c4178cf0fe08a187467a2a522069518.jpeg\")
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Lincoln Wymer says small supermarkets will not be able to absorb the rising costs for long. (ABC News: Iskhandar Razak)<\/p>\n
Mr Wymer is also the chief operating officer of the Reddrop Group, which operates supermarkets across Victoria and southern New South Wales.<\/p>\n
He has been in constant communication with suppliers to navigate the situation.<\/p>\n