Sardine supplies are heading for troubled waters with reports from Portugal that not only is the catch poor but those that there have been consist of unusually large fish. UK buyers have been asked to accept two to the can, but a leading importer told The Grocer: "Customers will buy pilchards if they want fish that size." Morocco cannot offer a solution as its supplies are limited and reports confirm that most packers are already extending shipping periods, causing some out of stocks. As with all canned fish, demand has increased over the past few weeks, and with so many different types of sardines now on the shelf, gaps are likely to emerge. A proliferation of different oils has extended the category compared with a few year's ago. Sardines' widely publicised health attributes have also resulted in a new generation of consumers coming on stream who are including them in their weekly shop. {{M/E CANNED GOODS }}

Topics