Farming News - Weetabix halts production in wake of poor wheat harvest

Weetabix halts production in wake of poor wheat harvest

 

One of the UK's principal cereal manufacturers has cut production of several breakfast cereals citing the poor quality of UK wheat on offer.

 

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Weetabix, which manufactures cereal in Kettering in the UK and, along with another production plant in Canada, exports to an estimated 80 countries worldwide, announced that it would reduce production of its Weetabix Minis and Oatibix ranges due to problems with the wheat supply caused by last year's wet, dim weather.

 

In a statement, Weetabix said, "Unfortunately due to technical issues we have been unable to make Weetabix Minis and Oatibix Bitesize to our exacting standards."

 

The company said it would work to bring production back up to speed. Weetabix said it remains committed to sourcing British wheat.

 

The cereal maker's announcement comes months after baker Hovis, owned by Premier Foods, was forced to rescind its pledge to use 100 percent British wheat in its breads.

 

The miserable conditions faced by most UK farmers in 2012 are in danger of repeating themselves; last week's Strategie Grains estimates place the UK's wheat harvest at its lowest ebb since 2001. The 11.78m currently projected could be slashed further unless spring brings improvements in weather.

 

When it was bought by Chinese food company Bright Foods in 2012, Weetabix accounted for 7 percent of the UK cereals market, with an estimated value of £1.2 billion.