Esco’s shelves are empty of Heinz Beanz and Ketchup products after a dispute over pricing.
It is clear that Heinz has interrupted supply to the UK’s largest supermarket chain, leading to gaps in the shelves of the brand’s products.
Tesco’s website states that products such as Beanz 4x415g, Sticky Barbecue Sauce 500g, Salad Cream 605g, Baked Beans & Pork Sausages 200g, No Added Sugar Beanz 4x415g Snap Pots 4x200g, No Added Sugar Beanz 200g and Chicken Noodle Soup 400g are not available .
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are very focused on controlling the costs of the weekly store and offer customers great value for money through our combination of Aldi Price Match, low daily prices and Clubcard prices.
“With household budgets under increasing pressure, we now have a greater responsibility than ever to ensure that customers receive the best possible value and will not pass on unwarranted price increases to our customers.
“We’re sorry this means some products are not currently available, but we have plenty of alternatives to choose from and we hope this issue will be resolved soon.”
A Kraft Heinz spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Tesco to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
“In today’s challenging economic environment – with rising raw material and production costs – many consumers operate on tight budgets. We are always looking to provide value through price, size and packaging so that consumers can enjoy the products they love and trust at a price that fits their budget, without compromising on quality.
“We are confident in a positive solution with Tesco.”
An investigation by trade publication The Grocer, which first reported on the dispute, showed that prices had surged across the Heinz range in recent weeks.
For example, the price of a 4x400g pack of Heinz Cream or Tomato Soup had risen from £2.50 to £3.50 at Sainsbury’s, while a 4x200g pack of Beanz Snap Pots had risen from £2.50 to £2.99 in Morrisons.
A single 415g can of Beanz in Asda has risen from 90p to £1.20, according to retail researchers Assosia.
In recent months, food manufacturers have reported rising costs, including for energy and raw materials, with some warning that they should increase the prices they charge retailers.
However, supermarkets continue to compete to win over customers, who are curbing their spending to face the cost of living crisis.
Rising food prices have helped inflation spike to its 40-year high, and shoppers are already cutting back on the amount of food they buy, according to a survey for the Office for National Statistics.