Supermarket owners are doing what they can NOT to pass on rising food costs

The price of our food baskets has risen 4.4 percent for the year, with the retail price for same period up 3.2 percent.

Meat, poultry and fish had the biggest annual increases, while butter, milk and cheese drove grocery prices.

Butter surged by more than 51 percent over the year.

Foodstuffs North Island CEO, Chris Quin says they're doing everything they can, but they can't contain the same costs of energy and people.