Mornington Kindergarten treasurer Karen Crawford said the rolls were ‘‘very, very expensive'' to produce during a drive last November.
Previously, the centre had a cash discount deal with a supplier to buy catering quality grated cheese for $23 a 5kg bag.
Last November, the same quantity cost $34.80, and the figure is now $47.80. Catering sliced bread, meanwhile, had increased from $2 a loaf to $3.90.
Last year, the kindergarten made 1600 dozen rolls, selling three dozen for $12. It was now faced with increasing this price by between $3 and $4.
Dunedin Community College food and beverages tutor Geoff Palenski said increased dairy prices had decreased the profit margins for many fund-raising activities. A catering supplier had recently quoted 5kg of grated cheese as costing between $45 and $52. The same quantity cost about $28 last year, he said.
‘‘The cheese rolls are still better value than the ones in shops,'' Mr Palenski said. ‘‘These can be up to $1.50 each, and are often more a bread than cheese roll . . . It just seems too expensive in a country where dairy production is increasing.''
Pine Hill Kindergarten manager Claire Hutton said that while the centre did not make cheese rolls increased dairy prices had driven up the cost of pre-made pizzas they ordered from a catering supply company.
The Mornington Kindergarten community is to discuss fundraising at a meeting tonight and may be forced to abandon food fund-raising.
‘‘Cheese rolls are still very popular,'' Mrs Crawford said ‘‘We'd not be asking anything [prices] like as much as bakeries. But it is getting too expensive for many kindy families.''
