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ARCHIVED - Spanish bars run out of ice and supermarkets ration sales
Consum stores across Spain are limiting customers to two bags of ice per day
We’ve become quite accustomed to bare supermarket shelves and product rationing since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic: way back in the day it was toilet paper and pasta, more recently it was sunflower oil and seeds. In fact, the Spanish government even passed a law allowing stores to set limits on purchases if stock is running dangerously low.
Now, as the hottest day of the year approaches, bars, restaurants and even shops are reporting a shortage of ice as demand soars alongside prices.
To ensure it doesn’t run out, Consum supermarkets have rationed customers to just two bags a day and have placed posters to this effect outside the doors to all of its stores, reading: “Due to the temporary lack of supply of ice by our suppliers, in order to to prevent shortages to our customers, the purchase of cubed and crushed ice is limited to two bags per customer per day.”
But how can a product as basic as ice run out? According to Sergio del Moral from the Tele Hielo distributor in Madrid, the ever-increasing price of electricity is to blame.
“As it has not been possible to stabilise the costs to be able to sell the ice at a normal market price, the factories stopped production and it is now, in summer, when it is being noticed. The forecast is that in August there will be no ice,” he explained.
Of course, the heatwaves of recent weeks haven’t helped matters, and an increased demand for ice will almost guarantee a significant price hike.
This is bad news for consumers, who are already paying around 830 euros more annually for their grocery shopping, according to the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU).
Sunflower oil has experienced a rise of 118% compared to last year, flour is worth 50% more now, eggs have risen about 45% and pasta more than 55%, to name but a few.
Image: Pixabay
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