Industrial Action Causes Supermarket Shortages of Dips, Soups, and Wraps

A union has attributed the current scarcity of dips, soups, and wraps on supermarket shelves to strike action at a food production facility. Shoppers have reported a lack of the fish roe dip taramasalata this week, and Unite indicated that further shortages are probable due to industrial action at Bakkavor in Spalding, Lincolnshire. Regional officer Sam Hennessy stated that, as a direct consequence of the strike, “there are now significant shortages happening in many supermarkets up and down the country.” A spokesperson for Bakkavor acknowledged a “short disruption to our supply of taramasalata” and confirmed that production would “step up” at other sites to meet consumer demand for the dip. They also noted that soup supplies had been impacted “as an isolated product category,” but assured that “work is in hand to resolve this very quickly.” The company projected that taramasalata production would resume next week, clarifying that no other dips had been affected. Bakkavor confirmed that approximately 400 employees, representing one-third of its Spalding workforce, are currently engaged in strike action stemming from a pay dispute. Mr. Hennessy asserted that “The power is with the employer to come to staff with a decent pay offer that will be accepted,” and characterized Bakkavor’s position as a “simple case of corporate greed.” Conversely, Donna-Marie Lee, Bakkavor’s chief people officer, stated: “We have engaged the union in discussions since the start, and our CEO met with them recently out of a genuine desire to resolve the issue.” She explained that a discretionary bonus of £350 per individual and a pay increase exceeding inflation were proposed to workers at the Spalding site, but these offers were rejected by the union. Mike Edwards, CEO at Bakkavor, commented: “The union has a right to campaign, but our responsibility as a business – to our colleagues, customers, shareholders and to the communities in which we are a major employer – is to be sustainable, and fair, for the long term.”