Asda and Morrisons imposing purchase limits on some fruits and vegetables due to supply challenges
Asda and Morrisons are imposing limits on some of the fruit and vegetables customers can buy due to supply shortages.
Asda is temporarily limiting the purchase of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries to three of each item per customer.
“Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and North Africa,” an Asda spokesman 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.”
Morrisons said it would introduce a limit of two items per customer across tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and peppers from Wednesday.
The move follows a warning from the National Farmers’ Union that a range of British vegetables risk being rationed as farmers struggle with high energy costs.
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Farmers plead for government aid
Production of some fruits and vegetables grown in British heated and covered buildings – such as cucumbers and tomatoes – was already falling, the NFU president said.
“I think there are going to be challenges on availability of some food items,” said Minette Batters, including other salad vegetables grown indoors.
Vegetables grown in fields – such as cauliflowers, potatoes and purple sprouted broccoli may also be impacted, she said.
Weather in southern Europe and northern Africa had disrupted crops including tomatoes and peppers, the retail businesses trade association said.
The British Retail Consortium said Britain typically imports 95% of its tomatoes and 90% of lettuces from December to March.
Growers in Morocco have struggled with cold weather, heavy rain and floods. The problem continued down the supply chain as suppliers were hit by ferry cancellations, affecting lorry transport.
Spanish crops have also been affected by bad weather in the past three to four weeks.
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Other British supermarkets are understood to be considering limits similar to Asda.
A government energy support scheme was established for energy intensive industries but horticulture was not covered. Sectors such as steel fall under the remit of the scheme.
Business
Latest sign of struggling industry as car production falls for eighth month in a row – SMMT
UK car production has slowed, according to industry figures, in the latest sign of a struggling sector.
For the eighth month in a row UK car manufacturing fell, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
October saw 15.3% fewer cars roll off factory lines than the same month a year ago, meaning 14,037 fewer cars were made last month compared to October 2023.
The impact of this reduced production could be visible in the last week from the announcement of 800 job cuts from Ford UK and Vauxhall‘s Luton plant closure.
Part of the blame for the closure was placed on government electric car sales targets by Stellantis, Vauxhall’s parent company.
Pressure has been on UK car producers to meet the government’s electric car mandate.
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Govt to look into EV target mandate
Under the mandate, financial penalties are currently levied against makers if zero-emission vehicles make up less than 22% of all sales. This will rise to 80% of all sales by 2030 and 100% by 2035.
But the sales have not lived up to the targets and are less than the forecasts made at the time the 2030 target was devised. Instead of the intended 22% of all car sales being fully electric at present just 18.7% of cars are.
Following complaints from the sector facing £1.8bn in fines for missing targets and £4bn in discounts to make electric vehicles (EVs) more appealing ending in April next year, as well as longstanding calls for more support, a review into the mandate was announced.
Today’s figures show production for both the UK and for export declined, with the biggest fall (17.6%) in vehicles leaving the country.
The vast majority of vehicles (80%) are shipped abroad with half going to Europe.
Car maker problems are not unique to the UK as European manufacturers are also facing weaker EV demand than anticipated and competition from Chinese imports.
High borrowing costs and more expensive raw materials have compounded the problem.
On Friday, Bosch – the world’s biggest car parts supplier – reported the loss of 5,500 jobs, predominantly in Germany.
Less than a month ago Volkswagen revealed plans to shut at least three factories in Germany and lay off tens of thousands of staff.
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