An independent greengrocer say they have "queues out the door" after supermarket shelves were stripped bare of vegetables - while their shop remains fully stocked. Thomas Hagon, 39, from Reg The Veg greengrocers, claims "the produce is there for supermarkets to purchase but higher prices have turned the chains off".
Despite an increase in cost price, largely due to bad weather in Europe and Africa, Thomas claims greengrocers have been able to remain stocked up on fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers - because "customers are happy to pay extra for them". Supermarkets are currently facing shortages due to rising energy costs of suppliers and spells of bad weather in Southern Europe and Northern Africa.
Thomas says Reg The Veg had a period of low stock a few weeks ago when supermarkets were selling the vegetables at a lower price. But since the wholesale price has reportedly nearly doubled in price, averaging at £15 before and now as much as £30, Thomas says supermarkets "won't pay it", while greengrocers, like Reg The Veg, will. Thomas said: "We had shortages due to availability and low numbers about three weeks ago and supermarkets were still pumping out vegetables at low prices.
"It's got to the point where now supermarkets can't buy it at the right price as it's increased so much. It is available they just won't pay the money for it. Whereas we can, and we can then supply our customers and pass on the slight increase in price."
"We've still had to increase our own prices in some areas - cherry vine tomatoes are now £9.99 a kilo which is around double the normal price. We do say to customers that these peppers or tomatoes for example can be quite expensive but they're happy to pay that.
"Of course, nationally it's very difficult because of the volumes that supermarkets get in, but if they're quoted £25 or £30 pounds for a wholesale shipment, they wont pay for it."
A colleague of Thomas', Sylvie, spoke of queues stretching out the door on February 19, 2023, after customers scrambled for tomatoes and peppers. She initially wasn't sure why but then realised it may have been down to the supermarket shortage. Ultimately, Thomas says he isn't sure what the solution to the problem is at the moment, but it will probably result in supermarkets having to charge more.
Conditions on the continent have left prices at an "exceptionally high" rate. He said: "I don't know what the solution is to it, they'll just have to charge more - some fruit or veg hasn't gone up for a decade or more. When there's more competition from other European countries that supply produce it'll bring prices down - It's always high at this time of the year, it's just exceptionally high at the moment.
"We've seen the cold weather in Morocco, they've got snow, it's crazy. We've got used to eating what we want to eat all year round so when things go a bit short it can be a bit of a shock."
Other greengrocers have also found themselves with no choice but to double their prices. Paul Semple, 43, of Lloyds Green Grocers said: "Tomatoes are hard to get, courgette, cucumbers all hard to get hold of. They're twice the price, that's how scarce they are.
"It's always hard to get produce this time a year but this year we're nearly at £10 a kilo for tomatoes when we rarely go above £5.
"We're still getting the gear, just prices are up and very expensive."
