Princes has cancelled all branded promotions of sunflower oil as it scrambles to firm up supply amid the war in Ukraine.
With a significant proportion of sunflower oil supply coming from Russia and Ukraine, it was “certain that there will be an impact on any Ukrainian crop in 2022 and the forward position in terms of crops and infrastructure for seed crushing is, of course, in doubt”, said a spokesman for the ambient goods giant.
Based on its supply arrangements, Princes was “not discontinuing any SKUs at present”, he said. However it was “a fast-moving and fluid situation, and our customers will be the first to receive news of potential interruptions to supply”.
“We have cancelled any branded promotions of sunflower oil for the time being until the forward situation is clearer,” he explained.
The business was “exploring alternate sources and oils as a replacement and will remain in close dialogue with our customers”, he added, stressing “we continue to offer other types of oil under our Crisp N Dry, Mazola, U:Me and Olivio ranges”.
As well as using sunflower oil in its tuna SKUs, Princes sells bottles of cooking oil under the Flora brand on licence for Upfield Foods.
Princes isn’t the only supplier facing serious challenges in sunflower oil supply due to the impact of the war.
Pesto producers, too, have been left scrambling to find alternatives, with some eyeing refined olive oil, rapeseed oil or even soya oil as a potential replacement for sunflower oil.
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