Spud U DON'T like! The cost of potatoes soars by as much as 22% in the UK after storms leave fields waterlogged

• The cost of some varieties have increase by up to 22 per cent in just a month 

The nation’s spud lovers face big increases in the price of chips, mash, roasties and crisps.

The cost of some varieties are up by as much as 22 per cent in a little over a month after recent storms left fields waterlogged.

Packs of the biggest selling and most versatile Maris Piper potatoes are up by more than 10 per cent in Lidl, Waitrose, Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

Sainsbury’s British Maris Piper Potatoes (2kg) saw the biggest monthly price hike, up 22.2 per cent, from £1.35 per bag in the second week of January to £1.65 per bag last week.

Tesco also saw rises over 20 per cent, with its equivalent pack increasing by 21.3 per cent in the same period, according to analysis by The Grocer of price data collected by Assosia.

The price of some potatoes has increased by as much as 22 per cent in a little over a month after recent storms left fields waterlogged

The price hike means spud lovers will face big increases in the price of chips, mash, roasties and crisps

The UK’s biggest supermarket blamed ‘challenging growing conditions’ prompted by the wet weather.

It has responded by lowering its size and shape standards to take wonky potatoes that might otherwise have been left to rot.

Prices last year were also badly affected by weather issues, with Nationwide Produce group managing director, Tim O’Malley, saying in December the season had been ‘dreadful’.

NFU potato and policy chairman Tim Rooke said growers have been hit by disastrous weather extremes, ranging from droughts to downpours, dating back to the summer of 2022.

Resulting supply shortages meant that potatoes that had initially been destined for storage had been brought to market early.

He warned: ‘I think there could potentially be a shortage by the end of the season.’

The Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which speaks for supermarkets, Andrew Opie, said: ‘Difficult weather conditions have impacted the harvest for potatoes.

‘However, food retailers are adept at managing disruption and will take all necessary measures to minimise any impact on customers.’

The weather extremes have also hit other UK grown vegetable crops with the result supermarkets are importing more from Europe.

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