Summary

Fruit and veg shortage: Are Southampton supermarkets affected?

Our live feed has now finished.

  • UK supermarkets are facing a shortage of fruit and veg
  • Asda has introduced a limit on items such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers
  • The shortage is due to bad weather and transport problems
  • Retailers have warned it could last weeks
  • Follow this blog for updates on what shelves in Southampton look like
  • Reporting by Lily Lemoine

12:54pm

Sainsbury's, Bedford Place

Sainsbury's in Bedford Place is fully stocked but there is still a disclaimer about the shortages.

Daily Echo: Sainsbury's in Bedford Place is fully stockedSainsbury's in Bedford Place is fully stocked (Image: Newsquest)

12:28pm

Impact of shortage

Another shopper says she's been spending more on food due to the more expensive options being the only ones available.

Esme Keenleyside, 20, said: “It’s been a case of going to a few different shops before I’m able to get what I actually want and then when it comes to what I want, I’m having to buy the more expensive version which is annoying or having to make more expensive meals.

“I eat mainly plant-based so I’m having to buy quorn or veggie alternatives instead of just vegetables so plant-based version of meats and it takes time out of my day having to go to different shops.”

11:41am

Asda, Portland Terrace

Asda has brought in a customer limit of three on tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries.

Despite this, stocks are still running low at its store in Portland Terrace.

Daily Echo: The fruit and veg aisle at AsdaThe fruit and veg aisle at Asda (Image: Daily Echo)

Daily Echo: Notices explaining the sale limitNotices explaining the sale limit (Image: Newsquest)

11:29am

Lidl, High Street

Lidl on High Street is out of peppers and running low on tomatoes.

A notice informs customers the shortage of peppers is due to adverse weather conditions in Spain and Morocco.

Daily Echo: A notice in the Lidl store on Southampton High StreetA notice in the Lidl store on Southampton High Street (Image: Newsquest)

Daily Echo: Empty shelves in Lidl on Southampton High StreetEmpty shelves in Lidl on Southampton High Street (Image: Daily Echo)

11:10am

'It's a struggle'

Luke Edge, 29, says the shortage means he has to travel further or to more than one store to find what he needs.

He said: “I’ve noticed, particularly in the smaller shops, that it’s been quite difficult to get what you want.

“I’ve got two young kids, I find myself having to traipse to bigger stores - I can’t just pop round the corner and grab healthy things to eat so you’re left with the choice of having to either go on this massive adventure to get the stuff you want or buy them chocolate and crisps, which they probably love but in the long run might not be best for them so I think it’s definitely a struggle at the minute.”

He added: “You’ve got to be less fussy, I always get in trouble with the other half because she sends me to pick something up and it isn’t there - she thinks I just didn’t look hard enough but it’s genuinely just a shortage.

“I’ll have to send her to do the shopping from now on but I think it’s definitely harder to be specific with what you want to eat, I think you’ve got to be a little bit more flexible, or as I said, willing to go to two or three shops to find what you want.”

Daily Echo: Shopper Luke EdgeShopper Luke Edge (Image: Newsquest)

11:05am

Tesco Express, Ocean Village

This is the situation at Tesco Express in Ocean Village.

Fruit such as raspberries and grapes is missing from the shelves.

Daily Echo: A few empty shelves in the Tesco Express store in Ocean VillageA few empty shelves in the Tesco Express store in Ocean Village (Image: Newsquest)

10:57am

Fruit and veg shortage

UK supermarkets are being hit by a shortage of fruit and vegetables likely to last for weeks.

A combination of bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe is resulting in empty shelves across all the major retailers.

It's affecting produce like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and lettuce.

Asda has already introduced a customer limit of three on certain items and other supermarkets are expected to follow suit.

Follow this live feed for information on how the shortage is affecting stores across the city.

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