There has been strong winds disrupting ferries from Morocco and flooding in the country.įrost has also slowed growth and damaged crops. Travel disruption including ferry cancellations have also caused disruption. Mr O'Malley says that in Europe they tend to agree monthly prices, meaning that supermarkets find it easier to buy when prices change.Īdam Leyland, Editor-in-Chief of The Grocer, said that UK supermarkets are 'in denial' and need to be more nimble to avoid shortages like the current one. This tends to be a winter deal for produce from Spain and Morocco and a summer deal for UK produce. Tim O'Malley says retailers in the UK tend to agree prices once or twice a year so they and shoppers can get certainty on price. Why are European supermarkets not suffering from shortages?Įxperts say that it is because of the way that British supermarkets buy produce compared to those on the continent. It's not possible to grow cauliflowers in January in the United Kingdom unless you grow them in a greenhouse.' 'It's very difficult for UK producers to grow cauliflowers, for example over winter. 'This can damage a lot of the salad and brassica crops, which we have traditionally relied on at this time of year so that has created a gap in the market. ![]() He added: 'It's not about Brexit - it's about different buying models'.įarming minister Mark Spencer said at the NFU conference yesterday: 'What has driven some of this is a frost in Morocco and Spain in November and December. ![]() He said: 'I can honestly say that in the 40 years I've been in this trade, I've never seen such high spot prices across such a broad range of products for such a prolonged period of time.' While some critics have cited red tape on imports from Europe, industry expert Mr O'Malley said the single biggest factor behind the crisis was 'Mother Nature'. The problem started with tomatoes but has since widened to peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries. High energy prices - linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - are also a factor because it has become more expensive to heat greenhouses. Growers in Spain and elsewhere on the Continent are reportedly sending produce to European supermarkets rather than to the UK because they are more willing to pay the higher prices. Tim O'Malley, of major importer Nationwide Produce, said volatile growing conditions had seen wholesale spot prices for fresh produce lines soar by as much as 300 per cent. Some critics have cited red tape on post-Brexit imports from the EU as an issue. ![]() The supply problems are blamed on bad weather and high energy costs making greenhouses more costly to heat. If increases are passed on to British consumers, these items would add several pounds to a weekly shop.Īsked about the difference between shelves in the UK and Europe, where gloating expats relished sharing pictures of their supermarkets awash with fruit and vegetables using the hashtag #Vegxit, he said: 'It's not about Brexit'.Ĭold weather in Spain and Morocco has drastically hit the availability of vegetables in British markets along with soaring energy prices. Tim O'Malley, of major importer Nationwide Produce, said wholesale spot prices for fresh produce have soared by as much as 300 per cent in recent weeks as harvesting abroad went down by 20 per cent or more. ![]() He said the crisis is ' leading to sky-high prices for tomatoes and cucumbers' and warned that rationing now imposed in four major supermarkets including Tesco will drag on for 'weeks.' The cost of tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and salads could be sent 'sky high' by the current wave of shortages, an expert warned today, as suppliers smacked down claims the rationing is because of Brexit.Ĭlive Black, from Shore Capital, said bad weather in Spain and Morocco had caused a 'perfect storm' for British retailers who rely heavily on those countries for food in the winter months.
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