Food prices are a complex matter. There are so many variables at play that it is difficult to understand which factors are contributing the most to it.
Below is a graph showing SA inflation rates versus the Food Inflation rate of SA:
What is worrying is that food inflation is higher, and trending higher as well, than the normal inflation rate of SA. This will mean prices increases of food stuffs higher than the affordability of these food stuff will increase. Which means that people will feel like they cannot afford all the previous food they could.
Some of the biggest contributors to these price increases have been the petrol price increase, the Rand losing significant value, drought and short supply of raw materials. All these factors keeps food inflation higher than it should be. The aim of the Reserve Bank is to get it under 3%, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. All this means higher dependence on costly imports, lower export value and overall increase of food prices.
Okay, I don't really know why I did all that, but hey, there you go. Doom and Gloom for a Friday morning.