A survey carried out by shopping app Ubamarket says that more than half of British shoppers are worried that food prices will rise and shops will see shortages as a result of Brexit.
While the industry says that imports of salad, vegetable and citrus crops from Spanish regions like Murcia and other Mediterranean producers could be most affected in the event of a no-deal Brexit, other crops such as fresh and processed potatoes from northern European companies could also be hit.
According to the survey, which spoke to a nationally representative group of 2,000 adults, some 59 per cent (equal to 30 million individuals) believe that that Brexit will increase food prices of food and produce in supermarkets. Some 57 per cent of those surveyed believed that Brexit will make European goods in supermarkets considerably more expensive.
Ubamarket chief executive Will Broome commented, “[fresh produce] may be in short supply in the short term immediately after the new Brexit deadline. “For retailers, there are obviously concerns from all sides, and as an industry, we need to ensure that customers are fully informed and aware of any potential delays and shortages.
“It is clear that there are supply chain concerns from the industry and retailers are working to try and alleviate any potential issues, however, they need greater assurances from politicians in both the UK and in Europe.”
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