UK: Retail Demand for Potatoes Decreases Slightly

ADHB Potatoes reveals in its latest issue of Potato Weekly, that scattered reports suggest that the retail demand has started to lessen at present, following the nationwide “lockdown” for the past week. This has been suggested to be due to a reduction in panic buying as supermarkets introduce limits on purchasing.

With the closure of non-essential shops such as eat-in restaurants, foodservice sales have stalled, AHDB says in its report.

As the outbreak continues, an increasing number of industry staff could face self-isolation. This has the potential to result in staff shortages for factories, packhouses and hauliers.

With blue skies across much of the country this week, planting has resumed amidst ‘perfect conditions’ for some. Others are still challenged by the soil conditions following this winter’s wet weather. Although some are behind schedule, the warmer dry weather will provide welcomed relief for planters.

This week has seen packing prices ease slightly from the highs of last week, as panic buying behaviour subsided. This being said, supermarket demand for potatoes is still fairly strong as staff restock shelves as quickly as possible.

With customers having stocked up over the past few weeks we could see a slight dip in demand until consumers use their purchases, AHDB Potatoes says. Anecdotal reports suggest that some packers are pulling April contracts forward, to help meet demand.