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Some UK supermarkets are grappling with a scarcity of taramasalata after strikes disrupted manufacturing at a big provider.
Two trade sources informed the Monetary Instances that the shortages of the creamy unfold, made out of cod roe, had been attributable to industrial motion over pay at Bakkavor.
The London-listed firm is likely one of the UK’s largest makers of contemporary meals reminiscent of dips, soups, salads and prepared meals. Staff at Bakkavor’s Spalding website within the Midlands launched strike motion six weeks in the past.
“There was a brief disruption to our provide of taramasalata, however drawing on the abilities primarily based throughout its 21 UK websites, manufacturing steps up once more subsequent week,” the corporate informed the FT on Monday.
Tubs of own-brand taramasalata had been out of inventory on-line on Monday night at retailers together with upmarket chains Waitrose and Marks and Spencer, which each declined to remark.
Consumers have been taking to social media to complain about availability points at numerous retailers, with some prospects saying there had been gaps on cabinets for weeks.
Bakkavor added that the strikes wouldn’t have an effect on meals provide long-term and that its Christmas ranges had been manufactured on the firm’s different websites.
The British Retail Consortium, which represents the trade, acknowledged there have been taramasalata availability points however stated that retailers had been “adept at managing provide to make sure the affect on prospects is saved to a minimal and so they can buy items as regular”.
The Unite commerce union has stated that 700 of the Spalding manufacturing unit’s 1,400 staff are presently on strike, nevertheless Bakkavor has countered that solely 450 aren’t attending work.
In accordance with the Unite union, staff on the firm’s Spalding website are demanding a pay rise of 81p an hour — the union has stated most staff on the website are paid £11.54 an hour.
In a press release issued final week, Donna-Maria Lee, chief folks officer at Bakkavor, disputed Unite’s declare that the corporate had carried out years of actual time period pay cuts.
She stated Bakkavor had elevated pay on the Spalding website at “above inflation” over the previous three years.