Supermarkets warn customers of price hikes as supply chain gaps hit big four retailers

Shoppers have been warned to expect soaring prices of some fruit and vegetables, including lettuce, over the next four weeks as supply chain gaps plague southeast produce markets.

Shoppers have been warned to expect soaring prices of some fruit and vegetables, including lettuce, over the next four weeks as supply chain gaps plague southeast Queensland’s produce markets.

Supermarket giants have all been affected with Woolworths, Coles, Aldi and IGA, scrambling to apologise to customers.

A sign at Woolworths Redland Bay explaining to customers about supply shortages.

Woolworths at Redland Bay alerted customers to the supply shortage with notices posted on fridge doors over the weekend and on Monday.

“We’re sorry if we are missing some of your usual products,” the notice said.

“This is due to unforeseen circumstances in our DC (distribution centre) that supplies this store.

“Deliveries continue to arrive regularly and we’re restocking as quickly as possible.”

Lettuce, spinach leaf salad mix, avocados, some apple varieties and seasonal strawberries, and raspberries have been the hardest hit with some supermarkets having no supplies or selling stock at inflated prices.

Heirloom tomatoes were selling at the premium price of $16/kg across parts of the southeast, including at Woolies, where regular tomatoes cost $9.90/kg.

A supply chain glitch hits supermarkets as fruit and vegetable prices to soar.

Woolworths said despite the supply chain glitch, all essentials were still on shelves.

Woolworths fruit and vegetable general manager Paul Turner said price rises for some fresh produce, including cos and iceberg lettuce, were expected to continue for four weeks.

He said this month’s rain and the floods in March halted lettuce production lines and also closed a handful of roads, further compounding delivery delays.

“That caused a delay to regular growing conditions,” he said. “Shoppers may notice a short supply and an impact on price in the short term until normal stock levels return in around four weeks, depending on weather conditions.

“Additionally, our pre-packaged spinach leaf salads have been hampered by heavy rain, however, growth and quality are already improving and will only get better over the next few weeks.”

ALDI Australia customer interactions director Adrian Christie vehemently refuted claims that the supermarket giant had been freezing apples and avocados to bank supplies to make the most of the price hikes.

Shoppers in southeast Queensland are paying some of the highest prices in the country for fresh fruit and vegetables after supply chain glitches have caught supermarket giants unawares. Tomatoes are selling for a massive $9.90/kg

“In no part of our supply chain are we freezing and then defrosting our fresh fruit and vegetables,” he said.

“We are doing everything we can to bring the best quality Australian fruit and vegetables to our stores while continuing to support our growers through challenges.

“Heavy rainfall continues to cause major disruption in key growing regions around the country and the growing season has been severely impacted by storms and hail, which is why some produce may look a little different on the outside.”

Mr Turner said Woolworths shoppers would have to wait until late June for better berry prices but would soon be able to pick up Hass avocados at a discount to Shepherd avocados, which are going out of season.

Jazz apples were in abundant supply along with oranges and Imperial mandarins, and Kent pumpkins.

Prices of Australian mashing potatoes were also dropped this week.

Originally published as Supermarkets warn customers of price hikes as supply chain gaps hit big four retailers