Nestle hikes prices by 10 per cent as grocery inflation remains stubbornly high

Shoppers are paying 17.3 per cent more than in April last year, inflation figures show

Own-label sales were up 13.5 per cent year on year, with the very cheapest value lines soaring by 46 per cent (PA)

Nestle raised its prices by an average of nearly 10 per cent in the first three months of the year, it said on Tuesday, as new figures show overall UK food and drink inflation is at an eye-watering 17.3 per cent.

The Swiss food and drink giant, which owns brands such as KitKat and Haagen Dazs, said ice cream and pet food saw particularly sharp rises.

It said the prices of ice cream and milk products increased by 11.8 per cent over the quarter, and pet food brands, such as Felix, saw a 12.2 per cent jump. Overall, its pricing increased by 9.8 per cent as it sought to pass on the impact of “significant cost inflation”.