What do Christmas market traders say about rising prices?

Nils Borstel said his business was making less money despite more than doubling the price of a sausage

Mention Christmas markets these days and the conversation often turns to rising prices – from £8 bratwursts, £11 Yorkshire pudding wraps and even £5 for a few marshmallow sticks.

But what do the people behind the stalls think?

Are they benefiting from the hikes or are their own profits being squeezed?

Traders at Manchester's Christmas markets told the BBC they were feeling the pressure of increasing bills for staff, ingredients and energy, with some saying they were making less money despite charging more.

One trader said it costs at least £4,000 a day to run each her four stalls, while another has cut prices to keep customers coming back.

Nils Borstel, 25, helps run Bratwurst King, a family business which has operated at the markets since 1999.

He said a sausage that previously cost £3.50 now sold for £8, with much of the increase taking place over the past five or six years.

Manchester Christmas market traders explain prices

Borstel, whose family operates four stalls across the city centre, said rising costs for meat, electricity, staffing and accommodation had forced the business to increase prices.

About 15 workers travel from Germany to help run the stalls, alongside staff recruited in the UK.

He said that despite busy crowds and dry weather during the opening weekend, people appeared more cautious about spending than in previous years.

For example, some customers were now buying one portion of food to share, rather than purchasing one each, he said.

Borstel said he had seen a change in spending habits since 2019, when customers were more willing to buy food and drinks without worrying about the cost.

He acknowledged that prices were high and did not want to increase them, but said the they were necessary to cover expenses.

Poppy (left) and Neve questioned whether the portions they bought justified the prices

Among those questioning the costs were Neve and Poppy, both 18.

Neve, a student, said she had spent about £15 on one dish, while Poppy, who is taking a gap year, paid £11 for a Yorkshire pudding wrap.

"I think it was pricey for what it was," Neve said.

Poppy also felt she had not received much food for the money, although said it was tasty.

Both said they enjoyed going into the city and looking around the markets, while Neve sympathised with traders, saying she thought the cost of renting space could force businesses to raise prices.

Charlotte Whittle, director of CT Catering, has been trading at the markets for 10 years and now operates four stalls.

She said each stall cost at least £1,000 a day to run, bringing her total daily operating costs to at least £4,000.

Whittle, who employs a range of staff, said customers often underestimated the work and expense involved.

Before the markets opened, her business spent two weeks preparing its stalls, with another two weeks needed to dismantle them after Christmas.

CT Catering director Charlotte Whittle says her business employs 57 people across four Manchester market sites

She said the costs included staff wages, accommodation, deliveries, storage, packaging and card payment fees.

Parking three vans in Manchester city centre could cost £100 a day alone, she said, with the vehicles needed to replenish stock throughout busy trading periods.

"They think that you're just selling cookies," she said.

Whittle, who began her business selling homemade cakes at street food markets, said the cost of stock and packaging had increased significantly over the years.

Although she had increased some prices, she said she had chosen to absorb part of those costs rather than risk putting customers off.

"We've had to take a massive cut on profits," she said.

She also argued that the standard of street food had improved and customers were receiving food comparable in quality to that served in restaurants.

But not every trader has responded to rising costs by putting up prices.

Clark Murphy, whose family has traded at the markets for 22 years, runs Mr Crimble Crumble, which sells fruit crumbles from two stalls.

He said the business had kept most prices unchanged for three years and had reduced the cost of its largest portion by £2.