Coles puts purchase limits on a frozen family favourite dinner staple

Coles is re-introducing buying limits for packs of frozen potato products as the nation grapples with a shortage of potatoes. Heavy rainfall and major flooding has impacted the country’s potato production, causing a 25 per cent spike in the wholesale potato price. The knock-on effect means you’ll now be limited to a maximum of two frozen potato products from Coles’ freezers for the foreseeable future. The policy came into effect on Tuesday. “Poor weather in the eastern states has affected supply of some frozen potato products across the industry,” said a Coles spokesperson. “We thank customers for their patience while we work hard with suppliers to minimise disruption and return stock to normal levels in the coming months.” The chain’s fresh potato supply, however, will be unaffected. A similar restriction was put in place mid-December, forcing families to re-evaluate Christmas meal plans. Main competitor Woolworths, however, will continue with no limits to purchases of potato products. They’re weathering the storm and expect the supply issues to normalise by mid-February. The shortage is also affecting the commercial sector, with restaurants forced to either try hand-cut chips, or close their doors altogether. One such business was Roy’s Fish & Chips Takeaway Cafe in the New South Wales Far South Coast tourist town of Batemans Bay, forced to close their doors twice in a week over the New Year holiday due to the shortage. “We have ran out of potato‘s once again and will have to close our shop for trading tomorrow and we will reopen once we source and receive more potato’s,” said a post on Roy’s Facebook page from New Year’s Day. The Oven is a self-described pizza place in Strathalbyn, southeast of Adelaide, where the spud shortage has also caused problems. “Attention all chip lovers! Due to a potato shortage in Australia, we regret to inform you that we are currently unable to supply our normal chips,” reads a post on their Facebook page from January 12. “We have found a temporary substitute but will not have sweet potato for the time being.” And in the Victorian border town of Rutherglen, the ‘GRACE. bar + eatery’ is facing a similar situation. “HOT CHIPS IN CRISIS,” they declare in a Facebook post uploaded on Friday. “Due to the great Australian potato shortage of 2022-23, at some stage, over the weekend, we will run out of our incredibly popular ‘truffle fries’. “But have no fear, we are now stocked with crinkle cut chips,” said the post, before controversially adding “And let’s face it, they are undeniably the superior chip for crunch to fluffy centre ratio.”