Bread Consumption and Nanino System Failure in Subsidized Flour Management
Despite Iran’s centuries-old tradition of traditional bread, the sector faces mounting challenges, including rising costs, low-quality products, and unclear rationing. The government’s “Nanino” smart system—intended to reduce subsidized flour waste—has instead sparked frustration among bakers and consumers, failing to prevent overconsumption and illegal resale of bread.
Industry experts report that Afghan refugees consume about 1.5 times more bread monthly than Iranians, and their recent departure has cut national bread sales by roughly 6%. Meanwhile, persistent power outages cause daily flour spoilage, further aggravating losses. Promised financial support to bakers remains incomplete, with local authorities only partially approving necessary price hikes.
Despite four years of implementing “Nanino,” clear evidence of its success in reducing flour waste is lacking, raising serious doubts about the system’s effectiveness and transparency in Iran’s bread supply chain.
