Asda and Morrisons impose limits on fruit and veg items

The two supermarket groups are limiting sales of items including tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and cucumbers following supply disruption.

Asda said it has limited purchases of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries to three each per customer.

Morrisons said it would impose a restriction of two per customer on products such as cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers starting today.

The limitations were triggered by extreme weather in Southern Europe and North Africa, where floods, snow and hail have affected crops.

“Like other supermarkets, we are experiencing sourcing challenges on some products that are grown in southern Spain and North Africa,” an Asda spokesman said.

Many such products consumed in the UK at this time of the year come from those areas, and the issue has been compounded by the fact that farmers in the UK and some parts of northern Europe have cut back production in greenhouses because of high energy prices. 

The British Retail Consortium told the BBC that the shortages are expected to last a few weeks until the growing season begins and supermarkets find ways to manage supply.

Other grocers such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have not so far imposed any restrictions on purchases.

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