A MAJOR supermarket has admitted it has been hit by a Christmas turkey shortage this year.
Sainsbury’s says it has been forced to reduce its selection of turkey crowns this festive season due to a “supply issue“.
Shoppers will not be able to get Extra Large British Turkey Crowns this Christmas. These were sold by the supermarket in previous years, weighing between 2.9-3.1kg and serving 12 people.
Instead, shoppers will only be able to buy small, medium and large versions, which serve up to 10 people.
Turkey crowns – which have the legs and wings of the bird removed – are a popular Christmas dinner centrepiece as they cook faster and are easier to carve than whole turkeys.
Replying to a shopper on X who noticed frozen XL turkey crowns were “not available anywhere”, Sainsbury’s said: “Unfortunately, we won’t be ranging an XL Crown this year due to [a] supply issue”.
It added that Large Turkey Crowns would still be available, and that these would “likely be similar in size” due to the weight-banding.
Many Sainsbury’s shoppers will have already booked their Christmas delivery slots, after they opened to the public on October 23. Delivery slots are available from December 18 to 24.
Sainsbury’s did not confirm what was behind the supply issue of turkeys.
It comes just days after a warning that tens of thousands of Christmas dinners could “disappear” due to outbreaks of bird flu on farms across the country.
The bird virus, which spreads through contaminated feed and water or bird droppings and saliva, has been confirmed in recent days at farms in North Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Devon and East Sussex.
Andrew Goodman from Goodman’s Geese in Great Witley, Worcestershire, told the BBC an a single outbreak of the disease could mean “10,000 Christmas lunches disappearing”.
Mr Goodman said: “You’re finished basically. If we got it, all the birds would be slaughtered on the farm and then, with our free-range system, you’re not allowed to restock for 12 months.
“Which would mean no birds for Christmas next year.”
A set of compulsory housing rules for poultry, including turkeys, came into force this week for the whole of England to try and contain the current bird flu from spreading.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said the rules, which apply to keepers of more than 50 birds and sellers of poultry products, will remain in place until further notice.
The rules were already in place in parts of the North, Midlands and East of England.
Turkey shortages could also be down a surge in the cost of animal feed caused by summer heatwaves.
Lynx Purchasing, which handles purchasing for hospitality groups across the UK, said in September it expected the turkey market to be “challenging” this year for pubs and restaurants in terms of price and availability.
Meanwhile, major supermarkets including Tesco, Ocado and Morrisons have hiked the price of turkeys this year by as much as 28%, according to analysis by the Grocer.
Both fresh and frozen turkeys have been hit with price increases, but Tesco’s premium crowns have seen the biggest increase with both its Finest Free-Range Bronze sizes up from £18 per kilo to £23 per kilo – a 27.8% rise.
Paul Kelly of Kelly Turkeys told the website that farmers had suffered bruising cost rises “predominantly from a massive increase in employers’ National Insurance”.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “We know Christmas is a special time for our customers and we’re offering a wide range of delicious fresh and frozen turkey crowns in small, medium and large sizes, serving up to 10 people.
“We have plenty of supply of these sizes, so customers can shop with confidence knowing there are no concerns about the availability of turkey crowns this Christmas.”
