Shoppers being squished by a tomato shortage and 60 per cent price rises in a year
SHOPPERS are being squished by a tomato shortage and 60 per cent price rises in a year.
Supermarkets including Tesco and Asda have varieties out of stock.
Bosses say it is due to problems including energy bills hikes, bad weather and militant truck drivers.
Many producers of UK-grown tomatoes have reduced growing times due to soaring costs, trade journal The Grocer said.
The two biggest exporters to Britain — Spain and the Netherlands — have also been hit by the energy rises.
And Spain has had heavy rain, followed by lorry driver strikes.
READ MORE ON COST OF LIVING
Cherry tomatoes are now 58 per cent more expensive in UK shops than this time last year, according to analysts Mintec for The Grocer.
Last month, some McDonald’s branches cut the number of tomato slices from two to one on some burger options.
Andrew Opie, from the British Retail Consortium, said: “We recognise there are huge pressures on the cost of production but retailers are working hard with their producers to mitigate cost increases wherever possible and protect consumers.”
The UK imports 80 per cent of its tomatoes but new technology could lead to more being grown here.
