Why Livefood Prices Are Increasing in the UK

If you’ve noticed that livefood prices have recently changed, you’re not alone. We know price increases are never welcome, especially on products that many reptile keepers buy regularly.

We wanted to explain clearly why this has happened, what is driving these changes across the industry, and what it means for customers going forward.

📈 A Decade of Rising Costs

Livefood production is far more complex than it might seem. It depends on controlled environments, specialist feeding, careful husbandry, packing materials, and reliable delivery networks — all of which have become significantly more expensive over time.

Here’s how some key supplier cost drivers have changed over the past decade:

Cost Driver	2016	2026	Increase
Minimum Wage / NLW	£7.20/hr	£12.71/hr	+76.5%
Electricity	£0.14/kWh	£0.24/kWh	+71.4%
Plastic Packing Goods Index	96.8	130.3	+34.6%
Average Increase Across Key Drivers	—	—	+61%

These are some of the core costs involved in breeding, maintaining, packing, and distributing live insects at scale.

🏭 This Is an Industry-Wide Change

One of the most important things to understand is that this is not isolated to one retailer, one supplier, or one temporary issue.

Many customers are asking: why are livefood prices increasing in the UK? The answer is that suppliers across the country are facing the same long-term cost pressures, including:

• Rising labour and wage costs
• Higher energy prices
• Increased packaging costs
• More expensive feed and breeding inputs
• Higher freight and distribution costs
• Increased facility and operating overheads

For a long time, much of this was absorbed within the supply chain. However, the cumulative impact has now reached a point where suppliers can no longer continue to absorb these increases without affecting supply, quality, or service.

🤝 What We’ve Done to Keep Prices as Fair as Possible

We understand that livefood is a regular and essential purchase for many keepers, and we know that any increase matters.

Over time, we have worked hard to absorb as much of these cost increases as possible before passing anything on. At the same time, we’ve also been facing significant cost pressures within our own business, including:

• Rising staff and wage costs
• Changes to business rates relief
• Higher operating and fulfilment costs
• General inflation across day-to-day business expenses

Like our customers, we are feeling the effects of wider cost increases too. Our aim has always been to keep pricing fair while continuing to offer reliable stock, good service, and the quality our customers expect.

⚖️ Why Prices Have Changed Now

While these costs have been rising for years, suppliers have delayed passing increases on wherever possible.

That is no longer sustainable. Increases at supplier level are now substantial enough that price changes have become necessary across the livefood industry.

These changes help protect:

• Reliable supply of livefood
• Consistent product quality
• Long-term sustainability within the supply chain
• Ongoing service standards

Where changes are necessary, our approach remains simple:

👉 Keep increases to the minimum necessary while maintaining the quality and service customers rely on.

🦗 What This Means for Customers

Livefood prices have now been updated to reflect these wider supplier and industry cost increases.

We know this is frustrating, and we do not take it lightly. We also know customers deserve a clear explanation when regular essentials become more expensive.

This is not about arbitrary pricing or a short-term change in direction. It is the result of long-term cost increases across the livefood supply chain that are now being felt across the UK.

💡 Our Commitment Going Forward

We will continue to review supplier pricing carefully and do everything we can to keep our prices as fair and competitive as possible.

Wherever we can absorb increases, improve value, or minimise the impact on customers, we will.

We remain committed to:

• Offering fair pricing
• Maintaining dependable stock availability
• Providing quality livefood and reliable service
• Being open and transparent about major changes

💬 Final Thoughts

Livefood prices are increasing in the UK because the cost of producing and supplying them has increased significantly over time. These pressures are industry-wide, and they are affecting suppliers, retailers, and customers alike.

We appreciate that this is not ideal, and we’re grateful for the continued support and understanding of our customers.

If you have any questions, our team is always happy to help.

You can view our full range of livefood here: Shop Livefood.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why are livefood prices increasing in the UK?

Livefood prices are increasing due to rising supplier costs, including labour, energy, packaging, feed, freight, and production expenses. These increases have built up over time and are now being reflected across the industry.

Is this just one supplier increasing prices?

No. Livefood price increases are being seen across the UK. This is an industry-wide issue caused by long-term cost pressures affecting multiple suppliers and retailers.

Why have prices changed so much now?

Costs have been rising for years, but much of this was absorbed for as long as possible. Supplier increases have now reached a level where further absorption is no longer sustainable without affecting supply or service.

Are you increasing prices more than necessary?

No. Our approach is to keep any necessary increases as low as possible while maintaining stock availability, product quality, and service standards.

Will livefood prices continue to rise?

Future pricing will depend on supplier costs and wider market conditions. We continue to review pricing carefully and aim to keep changes to a minimum wherever possible.

Why not absorb the increase yourselves?

We have absorbed as much as we can over time, but we are also affected by rising wage costs, operating expenses, and other overheads. Like many businesses and households, we are being impacted by the same wider cost pressures.