Retailers have warned of potential shortages of fruit and vegetables over the coming months, blaming ‘mounting pressure on supply chains’ reports London Loves Business.
‘Industry sources say rising costs, transport delays, and poor weather in key producing regions abroad are combining to put fresh produce at risk,’ said the website. ‘Supermarkets have reported disruptions in deliveries from Europe and beyond, with some items already becoming sporadically unavailable in stores. Fresh produce such as tomatoes, peppers, and citrus fruits are among the most vulnerable, according to sector analysts.’
“The situation is being closely monitored, but shoppers may notice gaps on shelves if these pressures persist,” said one senior supermarket sourcing manager. “We’re working with suppliers to mitigate the impact, but external factors like extreme weather or shipping delays are largely out of our control.”
The warning comes as Spain, Portugal, Italy and Morocco have all experienced extreme weather events with flooding and storms decimating vegetable, fruit and salad crops across the Mediterranean region. Last time similar events occurred, and the price of fresh produce rose accordingly many suppliers chose to supply retailers in Europe when UK supermarkets refused to pay higher prices.
At the same time there are concerns that the wet weather seen in the UK will reduce the availability of over-wintered crops such as brassicas and root veg, while delays to planting could delay the availability of new season vegetables.
“Shoppers may see price increases as the market adjusts to limited supply,” said a spokesperson for the Fresh Produce Consortium. “We urge consumers to be aware, but panic buying will only make matters worse.”
‘Analysts say the disruption is unlikely to cause a nationwide shortage of essential foods, but certain popular or out-of-season items may be temporarily scarce,’ warned the report. ‘The industry is calling for continued investment in resilient supply chains to ensure consistent availability for shoppers.’
However, despite such sentiments and continuing rising in input and business costs (with further increases in wage bills and energy costs due from April), there are already anecdotal reports that supermarket buyers are pushing back after a period of rising prices. Some are reported to have said that contracts for 2026 should be cheaper than last year.
