Could heatwaves make your food shop more expensive?
📰 source: bbc_business · 💼 business
heatwaves and drought across the uk are putting pressure on food supply chains, and the british retail consortium is warning that could mean higher shop prices. the environment agency declared drought conditions for more than half of england last week, and farmers have just gone through the earliest harvest in 50 years.
prof manoj dora from anglia ruskin university says one hot week won't make a loaf of bread pricier, but if crop supplies run out, animal feed shortages could hit meat, milk, eggs and chicken. camgrain's simon willis says this year's crops won't reach full potential, with quality good but yields down. farmer david wheatley thinks farmers will suffer more than shoppers because supermarket contracts are fixed a year ahead, and retailers can import from abroad.
imported goods are also at risk — wine from france has both quantity and quality problems. the british retail consortium says retailers are used to managing supply disruptions and will bring in alternative suppliers where needed.
why it matters: uk heatwaves and drought threaten crop yields, potentially pushing supermarket food prices higher as supply chains strain.
source: bbc_business
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