Sainsbury’s has issued a caution that “supply issues” due to the ongoing rebel attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea means that shoppers could struggle to find tea.
Iranian backed Houthis militants have been firing rockets and attack drones at shipping heading towards the Suez Canal which has caused global disruptions.
Many shipping companies have now re-directed their travel around the Cape of Good Hope, this is adding between 10 and 14 days extra sailing time with increased costs.
Shoppers are being warned that “nationwide” problems could have an impact of the availability of tea bags on the shelves in supermarkets.
Retail chiefs have said that the supply issues will only be “temporary” and they insist that impact for shoppers at some supermarkets will be “minimal.”
A sign in one Sainsbury’s store read, “We are experiencing supply issues affecting the nationwide supply of black tea.
“We apologise for any inconvenience and hope to be back in full supply soon.”
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said, “There is temporary disruption to some black tea lines, but the impact on consumers will be minimal as retailers are not expecting significant challenges.”
Sparsh Agarwal, owner of several tea gardens in Darjeeling in India and founder of Dorje Teas, told the i newspaper in December, “We sent shipments to the US and Europe two weeks ago, but they are still in Bombay port and have not been picked up yet.”
