Tesco online shoppers have been left frustrated as they struggled to find a staple item, with the supermarket chain acknowledging “supply issues” affecting the product. Customers took to social media to voice their concerns, with one stating on November 20: “How come there’s been no tomato puree on your online shopping app for weeks?”
Offering an explanation in response, Tesco said: “We are aware of a current supply issue with some tomato puree products. This is being looked into.” However, the retailer could not provide an estimated time for when the product would be back in stock, saying: “We have no ETA as to when they will be available again”.
Another dismayed shopper posted on the same day: “Shopping online and am shocked that you have no tomato puree in tubes available for delivery, unless I get a whoosh delivery – what gives?” They also sent a screenshot from the Tesco app showing unavailable items including Tesco Tomato Puree 200g and Heinz Double Concentrated Tomato Puree 130g.
However, other brands like Mutti and Napolina were seemingly in stock, along with various jarred tomato pastes. Tesco has been approached for further comment on the matter.
Looking at the question of what could be causing the shortage, reports came out earlier this year of the tomato harvest in Italy being affected by climate change and other issues. As reported in Tomato News, the CEO of Mutti group, Francesco Mutti, said in September: “Water shortages have affected and are still affecting the fields. If not dealt with as a matter of great urgency, this could become a major problem in the next few years and lead to a significant economic weakening of one of the pillars of our southern Italian economy.”
But the chief executive said he was not expecting any sudden jump in prices on shelves as a result. Tesco shoppers could face more shortages, reports the Daily Express, as changes to inheritance tax may affect UK food production. From 2026, tax relief for farmers will be less generous, sparking concerns that UK producers may have to sell land, potentially impacting product availability on supermarket shelves.
Tesco shoppers could face more shortages, reports the Daily Express, as changes to inheritance tax may affect UK food production. From 2026, tax relief for farmers will be less generous, sparking concerns that UK producers may have to sell land, potentially impacting product availability on supermarket shelves.
Tom Amery, managing director at The Watercress Company, warned: “If we start selling of any of our farms, the reality is that we wouldn’t be able to keep up with the supply. That would then definitely lead to shortages and intermittence in supply.”
He named Tesco as one store that could be affected, explaining: “It could actually affect some of the contracts we have. We have contracts with M&S, Tesco, Asda – we’ve supplied Waitrose in the past, we could be supplying Waitrose in a couple of years’ time.
“All of those retailers need this consistent production process. If you don’t supply these contracts consistently and you’re not producing the crop every day of the year, that’s when they get wobbly and they can withdraw products off the shelves.”