Branston is struggling to supply its Baked Beans due to disruption caused by the war in Ukraine, The Grocer has learned.
The brand was “currently experiencing some supply challenges due to the limited availability of a particular maize starch”, said a spokeswoman for the Princes-owned brand.
The issue had “primarily been caused by wider supply chain issues resulting from the conflict in Ukraine and a poor harvest”, she said.
Branston was “engaging with direct suppliers to maximise available volumes and have made immediate changes to our supply arrangements to minimise any delays in production”, the spokeswoman added. It was also “exploring alternate sources and starches as a replacement”.
The disruption comes following a hike to Branston beans prices in recent months. This month, The Grocer reported prices had risen up to 46% in the 12 weeks to 4 October [Assosia].
Branston is the latest in a line of suppliers across many categories to face supply issues over the course of the year.
Frosties, for example, was in short supply recently as owner Kellogg’s scrambled to combat a shortage of cardboard. Meanwhile, certain Mondelez brands, such as Mikado, have been notably absent from supermarket shelves.
Others to be hit include Alpro, which blamed “production challenges” for a shortage of soya milk in September, and Batchelors, which also struggled with availability as it faced strong consumer demand and low stock levels.
Shoppers were also forced to contend with a shortage of bottled waters in the convenience sector in August, affecting major brands such as Evian and Highland Spring.
The well-documented shortage of sunflower oil, meanwhile, has spurred some retailers and brands to turn to alternatives like rapeseed and vegetable oil to keep shelves stocked.
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