UK retailers have said exotic produce from abroad is the product most likely to be affected by the grounding of air freight following last week’s volcanic explosion in Iceland.
Flight restrictions implemented in the UK and northern Europe after last week’s eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland have meant no food imports have arrived into Europe via aircraft.
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UK retailer Asda said today (19 April) that less than 2% of its food produce arrives by air and that there are currently no issues with depleting stock levels. However, the supermarket warned that if restrictions continue, it may results in issues with the supply of exotic fruit.
“Most of our produce is from the UK so that is not affected, and the majority of the remaining produce arrives by road or rail so actually at the moment our stock levels are really good. But if this drags on we may see some issues with products that come from a little further afield like exotic fruit,” a spokesperson told just-food.
“Exotic fruit arrives by air and at the moment we are fine but we are anticipating that it will be that produce that might be the area to suffer,” she added.
UK retail giant Tesco said that “well under” 1% of its food produce arrives by air and that it also had experienced no “disruptions or empty shelves”, with a “minimal amount” of produce flown in. But added that exotic items such as orchids may become in short supply if restrictions continue.
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By GlobalDataSainsbury’s also said that disruption to its stock levels has been “minimal” due to its “strong British sourcing policy”.
However, French transport and logistics giant Norbert Dentressangle said the restrictions were costing the firm, with its Heathrow facility having received no imports since last Thursday.
“Heathrow is our biggest handling centre for air-freighted products coming through, so since Thursday we have seen zero produce come through and that includes exotic fruit and vegetables,” a spokesperson for the firm told just-food.
“In the wider business we are still doing huge amounts of work and we have been working to coordinate road freight across Europe to make sure other fruit supplies aren’t affected in any way,” he added. “But the Heathrow operation…normally we’d be handling five to six tonnes a day of perishable produce but that’s been switched off completely.
“We have all of our colleagues which will need to be retained so we’re spending money with no revenue coming in at the moment, but we’re no different to others that use air freight.”
