New Zealand Might Confront Potato Chips Shortage

Consumers in New Zealand could have difficulties in purchasing potato chips, as the supermarkets will run out of stocks because of a wet winter, which caused a nationwide shortage.

Foodstuffs, which owns New World, Four Square and Pak'n'Save supermarkets, said some of their potato chip suppliers were having "challenges meeting demand" with at least one supermarket chain warning customers they may have trouble stocking them, according to radionz.co.nz.

"We are working closely with our suppliers to manage supply as much as possible. It is anticipated new season crops will be harvested in the next few weeks, so supply is likely to settle down then," Foodstuffs said in a statement.

The industry body, Potatoes New Zealand, said ceaseless rain this winter was the root of the problem.

"We've had the entire year's worth of rainfall already, so the rainfall is 25% above average, so the soils never get a chance to dry out," Chief Executive Chris Claridge said.

That means farmers have been unable to get out into the fields to harvest old crops or plant new ones.

"They're unable to get in to plant for the next season so we've got a compounding problem that we've not really been able to catch up on," he said. "We're probably around about 20% behind where we should be."

The problem is restricted to crisping potatoes, which are a specialty potato only grown in certain areas, mostly in the southern Auckland region and Waikato.