Shoppers might struggle to stock up on their favourite party dips – as well as soups and pasta sauces – ahead of Christmas, as Bakkavor Spalding workers plan further strike action.
Hundreds of workers at the Lincolnshire site have “voted overwhelmingly for continuing their industrial action indefinitely”, according to Unite the union.
Around 450 of the factory’s 1,400-strong workforce walked out in September after rejecting a proposed pay increase of 7.8% for the lowest-paid colleagues and 6.4% across all other grades in May.
The ongoing strike action has already affected supply of a swathe of lines to Bakkavor’s customers, which include Tesco, Waitrose and M&S, over recent weeks.
Tesco shelves, for instance, have been left stripped of own-label chilled soups, as reported by The Grocer. Meanwhile, dips made at Bakkavor’s Spalding site – such as taramasalata and cheese & chive – have also disappeared from supermarkets.
Ongoing shortages
The Grocer’s analysis of Assosia data showed eight out of 12 (66.7%) chilled pasta sauces sold in Tesco were already unavailable at the time of publication [12 w/e 12 December 2024]. Out-of-stock products included Tesco’s Carbonara Sauce 350g, Cheese Sauce 350g and Finest Basil Pesto 130g.
Meanwhile, eight out of 16 (50%) of Tesco’s own-label soups were unavailable at the time of writing, according to Assosia data. Missing products included Vegetable Soup 600g, Chicken & Sweetcorn Soup 600g, and Finest Keralan Inspired Chicken Soup 600g.
Seven out of 21 (33.3%) of Tesco’s own-label chilled dips were unavailable in the supermarket, including 4 Tex Mex Dips 400g, Reduced Fat Sour Cream & Chive Dip 200g, and Finest Trio of Creamy Dips 300g.
Tesco isn’t alone in its woes, however. Waitrose is also experiencing shortages across its own-label soups, dips and pasta sauces amid the strike action at Bakkavor Spalding.
For instance, Waitrose’s 600g Cream of Tomato Soup and Creamy Carrot & Coriander Soup, which The Grocer understands are made at Bakkavor Spalding, were unavailable online at the time of publication.
Several dips were also unavailable from the retailer. They included: Cheese & Chive Dip 200g, Onion & Garlic Dip 200g No.1 Caramelised Shallot Dip 170g and Classic Dip Trio 240g.
Meanwhile, Waitrose’s Red Chilli & Tomato Pesto 145g and No.1 Pesto Alla Genovese 145g – understood to be supplied by Bakkavor – were also out of stock.
Supermarkets appear to be reshuffling their stock in unorthodox ways to fill the shelf gaps left by Bakkavor, with Tesco adding quiches to soup bays in at least one of its stores.
‘Fight for fair pay’
Meanwhile, Unite has posted photographs of its members picketing outside M&S stores to its Facebook page over recent days. The photos show members holding banners stating ’Bakkavor: end poverty pay now’.
“If Bakkavor thought they could just hold out a bit longer and our members would go back to work with their tails between their legs, they have another think coming,” said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.
“Hundreds of our members voted overwhelmingly for further strike action and they will have the full backing of Unite as they continue their fight for fair pay.”
Delivering Christmas
When approached by The Grocer, Bakkavor insisted it had “robust plans to deliver Christmas across our 21 UK sites”.
“We would like to thank the majority of our colleagues at our Spalding site who have decided to take no part in strike action and have reported to work as usual throughout the period,” said Bakkavor chief people officer Donna-Maria Lee.
“As a business we have a primary duty to meet the demands of our customers and the general public who buy the products we make,” Lee added.
“We were very disappointed the union recommended its members reject the pay deal – and the rejection caused an impasse (a ‘failure to agree’).
“Since then, we have offered the increases to rates of pay and the bonus to all colleagues at Spalding on an individual basis.
“Already more than 740 colleagues have accepted and welcomed the offer of the new rates, including some strikers who have chosen to end their dispute with the business.
“Despite Unite claims, our pay awards at Spalding have been above inflation over the past three years – something we are proud of given very few businesses have been able to achieve this.”
The Grocer has approached Tesco, Waitrose and M&S for comment.
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