Sainsbury’s in danger of running out of dog and cat food pouches due to ‘national shortage’

cat and dog food
Margaret Davies

The supermarket chain is attributing the problem to higher demand due to the number of new pets bought during the pandemic.

Inews reports that the dramatic rise in pet ownership over the past year has resulted in a “national shortage” of cat and dog food pouches.

Sainsbury’s has experienced a surge in customer demand for pet food, with products served in individual pouches proving especially popular among new pet owners.

So great is the demand for pouches of wet food, the supermarket chain fears it could run out of product lines entirely, though it stressed that supplies of dry and tinned food were not affected.

In an email to customers identified as possible pet owners, Sainsbury’s warned shoppers they might struggle to find their cats’ and dogs’ regular dinner options while it tried to resolve the issue, and it expected the shortage to last for the whole of 2021.

“Due to a national shortage of dog and cat food pouches, we’re sorry if you’re not able to find your usual product at Sainsbury’s. We’re working hard to resolve this,” the email said.

“We think the issue will be ongoing through the year, but we hope to get them back onto shelves as quickly as possible.”

The company is attributing the problem to higher demand due to the number of new pets bought during the pandemic.

Sainsbury’s said in a statement: “We are seeing an increased demand for pet food pouches and are working hard to maintain stock levels. We continue to offer a range of canned and dry options.”

Last autumn, six months into the pandemic, The Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA) announced there had been a “staggering rise” in pet ownership since Covid-19 hit the UK.

More than one in 10 (11 per cent) of all UK households had welcomed a new pet into their home in that time, and a further 10 per cent planned to do so, according to a PFMA survey.

Millennials were most likely to become new pet owners during the pandemic with more than one third of adults aged 24 to 35 taking on their first pet, or planning to do so in the months that followed.


(Story source: Inews)

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