No rush on seed sales here, say local retailers
AN INCREASE in seed sales in the UK have not been replicated in the island, local retailers have said.
Demand for vegetable seeds has reportedly increased in the UK during February since supermarkets have started to limit sales of some fresh produce.
Seed producer Mr Fothergill’s Seeds said its UK online sales had jumped by nearly 50%.
And the Royal Horticultural Society said seed sales in its retail outlets had risen by 20% compared to the same month last year.
But RH Gaudion & Sons retail manager Chris Padgham said it had not seen an upsurge in sales.
‘No one’s been rushing through the doors panicking,’ he said.
‘It’s too early and too cold at the moment.
‘We are selling at normal levels to gardeners who know it’s best to get an early start.
‘We have sold out of a couple of popular varieties of cucumber seeds but that’s fairly normal.
‘We might see an upturn in April, when some of the newcomers and more amateur growers coming in when the sun starts shining.’
A Stan Brouard’s Garden Store spokesman confirmed that it had also not seen a noticeable increase in seed sales over the past month.
Local supermarkets also did not seem to be concerned, despite ongoing stories in the media regarding limited supplies of fresh fruit and vegetables due to unseasonal weather in North Africa and Spain.
A spokesman for Sandpiper, which runs the local Morrisons, Iceland and Checkers Xpress franchises, said the situation had actually improved over the last week.
‘Fruit and vegetable supplies continue to be in shorter supply than usual, however things have improved and most customers will get what they want, but it may be a different brand that they’re used to.’
A Waitrose spokesman said it had no limits or restrictions in place on vegetables and the Co-op reiterated that it had no plans to ration any products.
