Trucks full of Heinz products will be on their way to Tesco on Saturday after the maker of ketchup, baked beans and soup said it had reached a price increase deal with the UK’s biggest supermarket.
Heinz stopped supplies to Tesco last week in a dispute over cost rises believed to be up to 30%, but new supplies are expected to arrive at the weekend.
The battle has come as brand owners and other supermarket suppliers try to pass on the rising costs of energy, ingredients, transport and labor to supermarkets, which in turn try to limit the amount they have to pass on to customers.
Mars, the owner of the Whiskas, Dreamies and Pedigree pet food brands, has also halted supplies to Tesco in succession because of the price hike.
In a joint statement, Heinz and Tesco said they were “delighted to reach an agreement which will see the full range of Heinz products return to Tesco shelves and online”.
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“Trucks full of Heinz products, including Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Heinz Beanz, will be leaving soon and Tesco colleagues will be working hard to ensure the shelves are restocked in the coming days.
“With the British summer finally here, Tesco shoppers will be able to get all the essentials they need for their perfect summer salad or barbecue, including the Heinz varieties they know and love. It’s great to be back together.”
The dispute is likely to have put both businesses under severe pressure. Heinz ketchup and salad cream are seen as staples by many shoppers and a shortage on the shelves of the UK’s biggest supermarket, ahead of a hot weekend when many barbecues are fired up, will dent sales of both.
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