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Some UK supermarkets are grappling with a scarcity of taramasalata after strikes disrupted manufacturing at a big provider.
Two business sources informed the Monetary Instances that the shortages of the creamy unfold, constructed from cod roe, had been brought on by industrial motion over pay at Bakkavor.
The London-listed firm is likely one of the UK’s largest makers of recent meals reminiscent of dips, soups, salads and prepared meals. Workers at Bakkavor’s Spalding web site 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 talents based mostly 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 varied retailers, with some clients 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 business, acknowledged there have been taramasalata availability points however mentioned that retailers had been “adept at managing provide to make sure the influence on clients is stored to a minimal they usually should purchase items as regular”.
The Unite commerce union has mentioned that 700 of the Spalding manufacturing facility’s 1,400 employees are at present on strike, nevertheless Bakkavor has countered that solely 450 are usually not attending work.
In accordance with the Unite union, employees on the firm’s Spalding web site are demanding a pay rise of 81p an hour — the union has mentioned most employees on the web site are paid £11.54 an hour.
In an announcement 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 mentioned Bakkavor had elevated pay on the Spalding web site at “above inflation” over the previous three years.
