Crunch time for some potato chip makers

Gabriel Lindsay (6), of Dunedin, tucks into a bag of chips. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
Gabriel Lindsay (6), of Dunedin, tucks into a bag of chips. Photo by Christine O'Connor.
The chips are down in Otago - and, in some cases, out.

A lack of potatoes because of poor weather in spring has resulted in a shortage of potato chips on some supermarket shelves.

Visits by the Otago Daily Times showed displays of New Zealand's favourite salty treats were depleted in some Dunedin supermarkets.

However, raw potatoes were still found to be in good supply.

A Countdown spokeswoman said the supermarket giant was ''working directly with our potato suppliers to help make sure we have potatoes and potato chips available for our customers''.

Foodstuffs New Zealand said stock of all chip brands was available, but suppliers were ''managing supply due to challenging growing and harvesting conditions''.

New Zealand's two largest chip producers - Eta Snack Foods and Bluebird Foods - were unavailable for comment when contacted this week.

But Blair Harris, production manager for Timaru chip producer Heartland Potato Chips, said the company had fought to keep up with demand as a result of other producers struggling to source potatoes.

''Really, for us, we physically can't make enough potato chips to supply,'' he said.

The company produced its own potatoes and had not been affected by the shortage affecting other producers.

''We have had a reasonably steady supply of potatoes,'' he said.

''We have had a production supply issue because we have had so many orders coming in as a result of the shortage from other suppliers.''

The Countdown spokeswoman said the weather was to blame for the shortage.

''Bad weather leading into summer has impacted a number of potato growers around the country and there's a shorter supply of potatoes than we would normally see at this time of year,'' she said.

''We're working directly with our potato suppliers to help make sure we have potatoes and potato chips available for our customers.

''Some stores have signs up where needed to let customers know that some flavours of chips aren't available as suppliers concentrate production on their most popular ranges.''

New season potato crops were down by 20% compared with last year because of rain levels during spring, she said.

''This has meant a slower than normal potato growth, and in recent weeks has made it difficult for growers to harvest.''

Foodstuffs New Zealand spokeswoman Antoinette Laird said supply was being managed but stock was available in Foodstuffs' warehouse.

''It is our understanding that [suppliers] are continuing to monitor and manage supply carefully throughout New Zealand to ensure customers can enjoy their favourite potato snack throughout the summer months,'' she said.

Makikihi Fries Ltd manager Greg Hayman said the company - which produces frozen fries from South Canterbury potatoes - had been able to source potatoes despite the shortage.

''There's not plenty of potatoes. There is a bit of a shortage and that's mostly because the new season potatoes don't come online until the second week of January,'' he said.

He expected any shortage of potatoes - and chips - to ease by the end of the month.

-timothy.brown@odt.co.nz

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