Supermarkets are confident they have pitched their orders right and that the availability of crops ñ despite awkward weather conditions ñ from around the world will mean supply and demand should match each other in the last few shopping days to Christmas.
"I can't remember a Christmas when we have felt so confident and sales are really bucking the trend," said Andrew Sharp of Marks & Spencer. "The good cold weather this week has been brilliant for carrots and sprouts and we are confident about stored crops too as we have an excellent crop of English top fruit this year."
Spanish easy peelers may have been running short on wholesale markets in the build up to Christmas, but this has not affected supermarkets. "We have no concerns on citrus, our stores are full of it and you just can't miss it as you go in," said Sharp. At Somerfield, buyer Margaret James reported strong citrus sales. "We are not short of anything and clementines and satsumas from Spain and Turkey are doing particularly well," she said. "We are also running a 50 per cent extra free promotion on English Cox where customers can buy a 1.5kg bag of apples for the price of 1kg."
This past week has been a "normal one" at M&S said Sharp, who is expecting the Christmas rush next week. "With Christmas later in the week this year, people have three full shopping days as well as Sunday trading so the rush will come next week."
But Sharp did warn against similar price slashes on produce that some non-food retailers have been resorting to in the run up to Christmas. "There are no shortages and no over-stocking, and I hope that the other retailers don't discount in the last few days and devalue produce," he said.
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