A number of different pet foods including Whiskas, Dreamies and Pedigree could soon be missing off the shelves at Tesco following a dispute over pricing.
Mars has stopped supplying six brands to the supermarket, which also includes Sheba and Crave.
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Shoppers had previously been noticing price increases across some of the products, with one writing on Twitter: "Tesco 'every little helps' Whiskas 12 pack has gone up from £3.29 to £4.50. Inflation of 36%."
Speaking about the dispute, a Mars spokesperson said: “We are aware that some of our Petcare products are currently out of stock at Tesco stores.
"We want to reassure pet owners that their favourite products are in supply and remain widely available in the UK marketplace.
"There are many reasons why our products may be out of stock in certain stores from time to time.
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"We cannot comment on individual commercial relationships or situations.”
Meanwhile, a Tesco spokesperson added: “With household budgets under increasing pressure, now more than ever we have a responsibility to ensure customers get the best possible value, and we will not pass on unjustifiable price increases to our customers.
“We’re sorry that this means some products aren’t available right now, but we have plenty of alternatives to choose from and we hope to have this issue resolved soon.”
The move comes just days after a number of Heinz products were missing off the shelves at Tesco due to another disagreement over pricing.
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Kraft Heinz, which owns Heinz, has said it is working with Tesco to resolve the disagreement over rising production costs, which Tesco has said it will 'not pass on to our customers'.
The Grocer first reported there were a number of items out of stock in Tesco stores, with the supermarket's website also no longer stocking certain items, including Baked Beans & Pork Sausages 200g, Salad Cream, Salad Cream Light 605g and Heinz Cream Of Tomato Soup Mug Size 300G.
Speaking at the time, a Tesco spokesperson said: “We’re laser-focused on keeping the cost of the weekly shop in check, offering customers great value through our combination of Aldi Price Match, Low Everyday Prices and Clubcard Prices.
"With household budgets under increasing pressure, now more than ever we have a responsibility to ensure customers get the best possible value, and we will not pass on unjustifiable price increases to our customers.
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"We’re sorry that this means some products aren’t available right now, but we have plenty of alternatives to choose from and we hope to have this issue resolved soon.”
Meanwhile, a Kraft Heinz spokesperson added: "We are working closely with Tesco to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. In today's challenging economic environment – with commodity and production costs rising – many consumers are working within tight budgets.
"We always look at how we can provide value through price, size and packs so consumers can enjoy the products they love and trust at a price point that works within their budgets, without compromising on quality.
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"We are confident of a positive resolution with Tesco."
Topics: News
Lucy Devine