MAJOR supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, and M&S have been grappling with empty shelves due to a shortage of own-brand dips.
Industrial action at food manufacturer Bakkavor has led to a huge disruption in the supply and availability of our beloved dips.
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As Bakkavor is a key supplier of fish roe, the strikes have resulted in a nationwide shortage of taramasalata.
The creamy Greek dip, made from cod or carp fish eggs, blended with olive oil, lemon juice and either bread or potatoes, is enjoyed as a spread on bread.
However, shoppers will struggle to find it on some supermarket shelves at the moment.
The strike has also impacted the supply of other chilled dips, with cheese and chive, houmous and labneh lines disappearing from supermarket shelves.
Tesco appears to be the worst impacted by the shortages, with market research firm Assosia reporting that 14 out of 38 of the supermarket’s own-label dips are missing from shelves this week.
M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose are also affected.
Shoppers have taken to social media to air their frustration over the shortage.
One person said on X (formerly Twitter): “M&S haven’t had it in stock for weeks.”
Another said: “It’s the end of the World as we know it…”
A third said: “Let’s hope it doesn’t spread to the Hummus manufacturers, or there’s a risk of a double-dip recession!”
Even Richard Madely shared his outrage on this morning‘s Good Morning Britain when he said: “Judy likes Taramasalata at least once a week, but the factory is on strike!”
A Bakkover spokesman said: “There has been a short disruption to our supply of taramasalata, but drawing on the skills based across 21 UK sites, production steps up again next week.”
Members of Unite at a Bakkavor food factory in Spalding, Lincolnshire, have been on strike for over six weeks after rejecting a pay offer the union said was worth 6%.
The company said its offer was worth 7.8% for the lowest-paid staff and 6.4% across other grades.
However, workers said they felt that their “hard work” in “incredibly tough working conditions” was not being recognised.
Unite the Union told The BBC that workers spend “long shifts working in near-freezing temperatures, doing repetitive and demanding work”.
However, Sadie Woodhouse, general manager at Bakkavor, said the strike made “no sense” as its wages were “well above inflation and National Living Wage”.
The National Living Wage in the UK is £11.44 an hour.Â
This is lower than the so-called voluntary real living wage, which is calculated based on the cost of living and is currently £12 around the UK and £13.15 in London.
How to save money on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
MORE FOOD SHORTAGES ON THE WAY
Airline passengers could face in-flight food and drink shortages due to strike action by catering staff, a trade union warned last week.
Unite will ballot workers who provide meals, snacks and refreshments for flights from major airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham.
The union warned potential walkouts, which would also affect Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and London City Airport, were scheduled to hit the busy Christmas travel period.
It said travellers faced the prospect of “foodless fights” if its members at service provider dnata voted to down tools in a row over pay and conditions.
A Unite statement said: “Passengers at airports across the country are facing the prospect of having no onboard food or drink during long and short haul flights as dnata catering workers ballot for strike action.
“More than 700 dnata workers, providing food for airlines at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow, London City, Stansted, Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham airports, are balloting for strike action.
“The production line, warehouse and delivery workers are angry at the company’s attempts to change their terms and conditions without consultation.”
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It added: “If strikes go ahead, major airlines including easyJet, Ryanair, TUI, BA, Emirates, American Airlines and Air India will be impacted.”
Farmers have also warned about ‘crippling’ future food shortages in UK shops after Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget tax raid.
