Mrs Bremner said the rising demand in the year to the end of June was from a new group of people seeking support in Dunedin.
''There is an increased demand for support from an emerging group of people who've been made redundant, or are unable to get casual or fixed-term employment and are struggling to make ends meet.''
These people had been employed before and were now struggling to readjust their budgets, she said.
''[There is] a growing trend of people who need support, who have never needed assistance previously.''
They needed food parcels as they adjusted to their new circumstances, she said.
It was too soon for statistics to reveal if welfare system changes had also created more demand for food parcels but she speculated it had.
''I suspect that's the case ... but it's not a flood [of people] to the door at this point.''
A wide range of people used the food bank in Dunedin, she said.
''A reasonable number of young people, a range of older people and all else in between.''
