The recent courgette shortage in the UK had a large impact on January revenue, costing retailers more than £2 million in lost sales, according to data from market research agency IRI.
Figures for the top nine retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, and others showed that sales were down 58% for the week ending 28 January, (compared to 2015).
This is the steepest decline of sales to date, and set back UK vendors £175,000 in one week. The previous week saw a 51% decline, worth £655,000.
The stock shortfall was caused by floods, snow and winter storms in southern Spain, which provides the UK with many of its vegetables during the season.
Martin Wood, head of strategic insight for the retail sector at IRI, commented: "We know there have been production problems in southern Europe and it’s starting to impact sales quite dramatically at the leading grocery multiples.
"It remains to be seen if this downward trend continues. In the meantime, retailers are having to react quickly to the shortage and look to alternative suppliers to plug the gaps and keep customers happy."
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up for ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
