Supermarket rationing – latest: Shoppers rage over UK food shortages as shelves sit empty
UK supermarkets have started rationing selected fruit and vegetables as supply issues leave shelves empty across the country.
A combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe has seen UK supermarket shelves left bare of tomatoes, as well as dwindling stocks of some other fresh produce.
And while former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King acknowledged supply has been affected by poor weather abroad, he also said the sector had been “hurt horribly by Brexit”.
“North Kent, in Thanet, [had] the largest greenhouses in Europe, which used to be full of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes,” he went on.
“But those greenhouses have suffered, really, from two big things. I hate to say it, but it’s a sector that’s been hurt horribly by Brexit.”
Asda has introduced a per-customer limit of three on tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries, and Morrisons said it would be introducing limits of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers from today.
Other supermarkets are understood to be considering similar temporary measures.
Key Points
Supply ‘hurt horribly by Brexit’, says former Sainsbury’s CEO
Shortages reported in Ireland alongside UK
Asda announces food rationing on select items
Morrisons to begin limits on fruit and vegetables as supply issues
Why are supermarkets rationing food?
Basic groceries up by 30% as supermarket trust plummets
10:02 , Emily Atkinson
The price of basic groceries such as butter, milk and cheese went up 30% year-on-year at some supermarkets in December, figures show.
While overall food and drink inflation reached 15% in December across the eight major supermarkets, butters and spreads rose by an “astonishing” 29.4%, according to tracking by consumer group Which?
Milk was 26.3% more expensive than a year before, while cheese (22.3%), bakery items (19.5%), water (18.6%) and savoury pies, pastries and quiches (18.5%) also saw higher-than-average price increases.
More here:
Basic groceries up by 30% as supermarket trust plummets – Which?
Supply ‘hurt horribly by Brexit,’ says former Sainsbury’s CEO
09:25 , Emily Atkinson
Former Sainsbury’s CEO Justin King acknowledged supply has been affected by poor weather abroad, but has also been “hurt horribly by Brexit”.
Mr King told LBC that UK greenhouses, previously known to grow tomatoes, have suffered in recent years.
“These are products that we do produce, or in the past have produced year round in the UK,” Mr King said.
He continued: “North Kent, in Thanet, [had] the largest greenhouses in Europe, which used to be full of peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes.
“But those greenhouses have suffered, really, from two big things. I hate to say it, but it’s a sector that’s been hurt horribly by Brexit.”
Mr King also asserted that the supermarket industry had suffered from the government’s decision to exclude it from its energy support scheme.
Watch: Shelves left bare after supply issues lead to supermarket rations
09:08 , Emily Atkinson
Tesco issues six-day warning to anyone who uses a Clubcard
08:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain
Tesco has issued a voucher-expiry warning to its Clubcard customers as food prices remain at painfully high levels – with consumer expert Martin Lewis chiming in to offer a hack of his own.
More than 20 million people in the UK currently hold a Tesco Clubcard, which allows shoppers to receive special discounts on selected items as well as rack up points they can redeem later as vouchers for use in-store.
Customers can use their Clubcard vouchers to bring down the cost of their weekly shop or fuel, treat themselves to money-off at more than 100 Reward Partners including Pizza Express and Spa Seekers or pick up a new deal with Tesco Mobile.
Thomas Kingsley reports:
Tesco issues six-day warning to anyone who uses a Clubcard
How to save money on your weekly food shop?
07:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Shoppers face an extra £788 on their annual grocery bill because of grocery price inflation, retail analysts Kantar said.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar, said: “Households will now face an extra £788 on their annual shopping bills if they don’t change their behaviour to cut costs.”
So, how can we change our behaviour to save money while food shopping?
Financial journalist Paul Lewis, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box and author of the new tie-in book, offers the following tips…
Be aware of psychological ploys
Make a list
Read more here.
How to save money on your weekly food shop – according to a finance expert
Extreme weather conditions behind shortage, says supermarket director
07:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
James Bailey, the executive director of supermarket Waitrose, said extreme weather rather than Brexit was to blame for the shortage of produce.
“It’s been snowing and hailing in Spain, it was hailing in North Africa last week - that is wiping out a large proportion of those crops,” he told LBC radio.
“Give it about a fortnight and the other growing seasons in other parts of the world will have caught up and we should be able to get that supply back in.”
Where are the tomatoes?
06:50 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Britain is facing a shortage of vegetables, particularly tomatoes, after supermarket supplies were hit by disrupted harvests in southern Europe and north Africa.
Grocers said the situation was exacerbated by less winter production in greenhouses in Britain and the Netherlands due to high energy costs.
Though largely self-sufficient in the summer, Britain typically imports 95 per cent of its tomatoes and 90 per cent of its lettuces from December to March, according to BRC data.
Asda, Britain’s third largest grocer, said it had introduced a temporary three-pack limit for purchases of tomatoes, while rival Morrisons said it would impose a cap of two items per customer.
Supermarkets ration fruit and vegetables with warning over panic buying
06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Supermarkets across the UK have begun rationing fresh food items in a move that is expected to last “weeks”.
A poor harvest in Europe means Asda is now limiting customers to a maximum of three items such as peppers, lettuce and broccoli.
Morrisons will also start a ban of more than two items from today, with limited produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
Rich Booth and Eleanor Noyce report.
Supermarket issues warning as it rations fruit and vegetables
Why supermarkets had empty shelves over the weekend
Tuesday 21 February 2023 22:04 , Eleanor Noyce
Shoppers have hit out after reports of empty shelves in supermarkets across the country at the weekend.
Morrisons has admitted a tomato shortage and a general lack of fresh vegetables is reported elsewhere.
Andrea Cowan, the SNP councillor for Rutherglen Central & North, posted a photo on Twitter showing a lack of veg at a site in her local area.
Read more:
Why supermarkets like Tesco and Morrisons had empty shelves over the weekend
Shortages reported in Ireland alongside UK, with Brexit “unlikely” to be a factor
Tuesday 21 February 2023 21:00 , Eleanor Noyce
It isn’t just UK supermarkets that are struggling with fresh produce shortages: stock levels in Ireland have been depleted, too.
Tesco Ireland has reported that its stock levels have been temporarily affected, with locally-owned chain SuperValu confirming similar issues.
Industry sources told the BBC that the UK may be suffering on account of lower domestic production and more complex supply chains alongside a price-sensitive market. However, these sources suggest that Brexit is “unlikely” to be a factor.
Wholesaler Ken Mortimer, CEO of Heritage Fine Food Company, does not believe that Brexit is the cause of the current shortages.
The impact of new border procedures for fruit and vegetable imports will not be seen until January 2024. Imports from Morocco - outside the EU - are already being subjected to border checks.
“Major shortages” expected in domestically grown crops too, says fresh produce firm boss
Tuesday 21 February 2023 20:30 , Eleanor Noyce
As UK supermarket shelves appear devoid of fresh produce, it isn’t just European growers that are struggling with severe weather: UK farmers have been impacted, too.
Tim O’Malley, managing director of Nationwide Produce, one of the UK’s largest fresh produce firms, has warned customers of “major shortages” in domestically grown crops.
UK crops of carrots, parsnips, cabbage and cauliflower have been impacted by the poor weather, Mr O’Malley stated.
“The biggest issue we now have as an industry is not inflation, it’s mother nature,” he told the BBC.
Cuts to post-Brexit farm subsidies contributing towards shortages, says National Farmers Union UK
Tuesday 21 February 2023 20:00 , Eleanor Noyce
National Farmers Union UK’s president Minette Batters has stated that cuts to post-Brexit farm subsidies have contributed towards production falls.
“For protected crop growers, those growing [crops] under cover, the price of gas means that they are mothballing many of their businesses,” Ms Batters told reports at the NFU’s annual conference. “We are seeing huge contractions — the lowest levels of production since 1985, when records began.”
Steep increases in the price of raw materials, labour and energy have also contributed towards production decreases in other areas of agricultures, including eggs. As Ms Batters notes, almost 1 billion fewer eggs were produced in 2022 than in 2019.
“Other sectors are facing an uncertain future as direct [subsidy] payments are phased out against a backdrop of high cost inflation,” she added.
On Tuesday, ministers announced that they would provide than £168 million in grants for farmers in an effort to fund innovation, animal health and welfare changes, and environmental protection.
Supermarkets ration fruit and vegetables with warning over panic buying
Tuesday 21 February 2023 19:30 , Eleanor Noyce
Supermarkets across the country have begun rationing fresh food items in a move which is expected to last “weeks.”
A poor harvest in Europe means Asda is now limiting customers to a maximum of three items such as peppers, lettuce and broccoli.
Morrisons will also start a ban of more than two items tomorrow, with limited produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
Shoppers across the country have been sharing their frustration on social media after being unable to find tomatoes at their local stores.
Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past three to four weeks – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain.
Supplies from Britain’s other major winter source, Spain, have also been badly affected by weather.
Production problems in Morocco began in January with unusually cold night-time temperatures that affected tomato ripening.
These were compounded by ferry cancellations due to bad weather, affecting lorry deliveries.
Read the full story below:
Supermarket issues warning as it rations fruit and vegetables
“The situation is becoming worrying”, say Spanish farmers
Tuesday 21 February 2023 19:00 , Eleanor Noyce
“The situation is becoming worrying as some companies are struggling to meet their customers’ schedules,” the Confederation of Fruit and Vegetable Producers’ Organisations of Almeria, Coexphal told Der Spiegel.
The UK is largely self-sufficient during the summer months, but typically imports 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of its lettuce from December to March.
Throughout 2022, British grocers suffered supply disruptions largely on account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, before Christmas, stocks improved.
Elsewhere, in February 2023, Morocco banned the export of tomatoes, onions and potatoes to West African countries in a bid to decrease domestic prices and protect its exports to Europe.
Availability of produce down by 30-40%, catering supplier reports
Tuesday 21 February 2023 18:30 , Eleanor Noyce
Following widespread supermarket shortages, catering supplier Reynolds has remarked that the availability of produce is down by between 30% and 40% on some crops, The Guardian reports.
Wholesale prices have increased by up to three times compared to normal levels in some cases, rendering not only empty shelves an issue in some UK supermarkets, but inflation too.
British supermarkets impose food rations as shelves lay empty
Tuesday 21 February 2023 18:00 , Eleanor Noyce
Supermarkets across the UK have started imposing food rations after supply issues have left shelves bare.
Bad weather conditions and transport issues in both Africa and Europe have led to a limited flow of fresh produce coming into the UK.
Asda customers will be limited to buying just three items of certain fruits and vegetables, while Morrisons said it would be introducing limits of two selected items.
This video explains why produce is being rationed and what it means for customers.
British supermarkets impose food rations as shelves lay empty
Marks & Spencer confirms it is “monitoring” the situation, but has no plans to ration produce
Tuesday 21 February 2023 17:25 , Eleanor Noyce
Marks & Spencer has confirmed that it is “monitoring” the situation, but that it has no plans to ration fresh produce.
“We’re monitoring the situation, but no current plans to introduce restrictions/rationing”, an M&S spokesperson told The Independent.
“Although we are not immune to the well-publicised issues across the whole industry, we are mitigating where we can through alternative supply routes.”
A combination of factors has been blamed for the current shortages, including supply chain issues caused by the Covid pandemic, soaring energy costs fuelled by Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and a shortage of both permanent and seasonal farm workers due to Brexit.
Asda and Morrisons have both introduced limits on fresh produce.
Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco not currently rationing fresh produce
Tuesday 21 February 2023 17:01 , Eleanor Noyce
Approached by The Independent for comment, Lidl, Sainsbury’s and Tesco each confirmed that they are not currently rationing fresh produce.
However, customers have been complaining about empty shelves despite a lack of rationing policies.
Notably, SNP Councillor for Rutherglen Central & North Andrea Cowan took to Twitter on Friday to note a lack of tomatoes.
Picturing bare shelves, Ms Cowan wrote: “I’m sorry, @tesco this is not good enough in your Dalmarnock store on a Friday afternoon. Lots more shelves with empty boxes throughout the store. Rising prices are bad enough but lack of basic foodstuffs is unacceptable.”
Why supermarkets like Tesco and Morrisons had empty shelves over the weekend
Tuesday 21 February 2023 16:38 , Thomas Kingsley
The Best for Britain campaign group said Brexit had hit supply chains over the past few years, and warned of empty shelves on a regular basis without an effort to remove trade friction with the EU.
“Brexit is not responsible for the adverse conditions which have impacted crops this year, but it has made UK supply chains less resilient and increased costs for both importers and exporters,” said chief executive Naomi Smith.
The campaigner added: “Like the £200 Brexit premium on annual food bills for Brits, empty supermarket shelves will become more common until the government faces reality and works to improve their shambolic Brexit deal.”
Brexit has added an average of just over £200 a year to Britons’ food costs over, according to a December study by the Centre for Economic Performance.
Why are supermarkets rationing food?
Tuesday 21 February 2023 15:41 , Thomas Kingsley
Shoppers have hit out after reports of empty shelves in supermarkets across the country at the weekend.
Morrisons has admitted a tomato shortage and a general lack of fresh vegetables is reported elsewhere.
Andrea Cowan, the SNP councillor for Rutherglen Central & North, posted a photo on Twitter showing a lack of veg at a site in her local area.
A combination of factors has been blamed for the shortages, including supply chain issues caused by the Covid pandemic, soaring energy costs fuelled by Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine and a shortage of both permanent and seasonal farm workers due to Brexit.
Lea Valley, which stretches from Hertfordshire and Essex to north London, produced around 75 per cent of Britain’s cucumbers and peppers in 2020.
The area – dubbed the ‘cucumber capital of Britain’ – could see production halved this year compared with 2020 figures.
Read the full story below:
Why supermarkets like Tesco and Morrisons had empty shelves over the weekend
Which supermarkets are involved in rationing?
Tuesday 21 February 2023 15:38 , Thomas Kingsley
So far Asda and Morrisons are the first supermarkets to announce they will be rationing food.
The shortages are understood to be resulting in industry-wide gaps on shelves in the UK, with producers further reporting needing to cut back on greenhouse numbers due to the spike in energy prices.
Morrisons will also start a ban of more than two items tomorrow, with limited produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
“Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and north Africa”, an Asda spokesperson said.
“We have introduced a temporary limit of three of each product on a very small number of fruit and vegetable lines, so customers can pick up the products they are looking for.”
Minette Batters, the head of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), told Sky News: “Everybody wants to avoid rationing, effectively, which is what we saw with eggs in December.”
Supermarkets ration fruit and vegetables with warning over panic buying
Tuesday 21 February 2023 15:35 , Thomas Kingsley
Supermarkets across the country have begun rationing fresh food items in a move which is expected to last “weeks.”
A poor harvest in Europe means Asda is now limiting customers to a maximum of three items such as peppers, lettuce and broccoli.
Morrisons will also start a ban of more than two items tomorrow, with limited produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers.
Shoppers across the country have been sharing their frustration on social media after being unable to find tomatoes at their local stores.
Growers and suppliers in Morocco have had to contend with cold temperatures, heavy rain, flooding and cancelled ferries over the past three to four weeks – all of which have affected the volume of fruit reaching Britain.
Supplies from Britain’s other major winter source, Spain, have also been badly affected by weather.
Production problems in Morocco began in January with unusually cold night-time temperatures that affected tomato ripening.
These were compounded by ferry cancellations due to bad weather, affecting lorry deliveries.
Read the full story below:
Supermarket issues warning as it rations fruit and vegetables
Welcome
Tuesday 21 February 2023 15:29 , Thomas Kingsley
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of supermarket food rationing hitting shops across the country following empty shelves seen over the weekend.
