This Is Guernsey

By Aimee Le Cocq

CHECKERS has cut the cost of coal. Its buy two, get one free offer means three 20kg bags can be bought for under £15.

‘We needed to do something about the steep rise in coal prices,’ said a spokesman yesterday. ‘So we searched further afield for better quality and a better price, which we are happy to pass on to the customer. It has gone down a storm. We are getting quite short, but we are getting a delivery today.’

The coal is being imported from the UK.  In Jersey, the Checkers move has started a price war with the Co-op and the society’s Channel Islands chief executive Jim Hopley said cheap coal was on its way to Guernsey stores.

‘It should arrive by the middle of next week,’ he said yesterday.

‘It’s 20kg for £6.79. We are hoping to hold that to the end of winter.’

From Wednesday, Guernsey Coal increased prices by 45% because stocks were exhausted. The cost of a 25kg bag of house coal is now £11, whereas last month it was £7.50. In the UK, that increase came into force at the start of the year.

Production problems and global demand have been blamed for the hikes.

Guernsey Coal managing director David Meeks said the company had been honouring some 23,000 pre-ordered sacks at the old price and was not trying to rip off anyone – its supplier has raised its price.

‘And we are analysing the coal that our competitors have bought because it is likely to be of a lower quality,’ he said.

He added that with enough stock to last until the spring, his prices would not go up any further.

‘I don’t know how long these loss-leader special offers will last.’

Tree surgery firm Special Branch has noted a rise in demand for its timber, at £3.50 per bag.

‘Log orders are going through the roof at the moment,’ said acting manager Darren King.

‘We must have about 15 orders to be delivered. We have been driving round and noticed that log prices have gone up all over the place. I think this is all because of the rising price of coal.’

But Arborcraft said demand had remained static. ‘Our price has gone up by about 5%,’ said director Jonathan Skillett, ‘but logs are still a fairly good price compared to coal.’

It charges £3 per bag.

‘We haven’t been inundated with orders, but we only starting logging this week.’

Article posted on 4th October, 2008 - 9.29am