Wet spring upsets potato chip supply

Bad spring weather meant new season potato crops were down by 20 per cent compared to last year. Photo / Jason Dorday

Supermarkets are keeping a close eye on chip supplies, with a potato shortage threatening to leave shelves bare.

Bad spring weather meant new season potato crops were down by 20 per cent compared to last year.

One of New Zealand's largest chip producers - Eta Snack Foods - was unable to comment last night, but the company had posted a warning about the potato shortage on its Facebook page last month.

Blair Harris, production manager for Timaru-based producer Heartland Potato Chips, said the company had struggled to keep up with demand.

"Really for us, we physically can't make enough potato chips to supply."

The company produced its own potatoes and hadn't been affected by the shortage. "We have had a reasonably steady supply of potatoes."

Foodstuffs New Zealand spokeswoman Antoinette Laird said supply was being managed but stock was available.

"It is our understanding that [suppliers] are continuing to monitor and manage supply carefully."

Makikihi Fries manager Greg Hayman said the shortage was "mostly because the new season potatoes don't come online until the second week of January".

He expected any shortage of potatoes - and chips - to subside by the end of the month.