The continuing delay in South African grape supply is forcing at least one UK retailer to pay a premium to airfreight fruit to meet demand.
Matias de la Fuente, commercial director with Chiquita Chile, said he was sending early grapes over to the UK by airfreight to help a retailer meet demand.
“It’s unbelievable, but they’re paying around $18 to $20 a box to us and a further $22 to $23 a box on top of that to airfreight the grapes. They’re losing money, but they need the fruit to meet their pre-planned promotional programmes.”
He said retailers are struggling to meet demand due to the delay in the start of the South African season. “We’re getting calls from retailers who are desperate for fruit,” he added.
One UK buyer said he wasn’t surprised by the news, although at the moment his chain is managing to meet demand with supplies from South Africa.
“Supply is not what we were expecting it to be and red seedless is proving to be the real difficulty at the moment. We’re ok for the time being, but supplies are really tight.”
No comments yet