Drier crumpets on the menu if carbon dioxide supplies run low again
Crumpets could become drier under plans being considered by Warburtons to prevent shortages of the teatime favourite if supplies of carbon dioxide run short again.
The Daily Telegraph understands that Britain’s biggest baker has ruled nothing out in its efforts to protect its crumpet supply in the coming months, including tweaks to the recipe.
Unlike for its other baked goods, Warburtons uses carbon dioxide to package its crumpets. This is because they are “wetter”, and so would go off more quickly without the CO2.
Making them drier could allow the company to switch away from CO2, sources told The Daily Telegraph.
Recent weeks have seen a severe shortage of the gas, resulting in warnings from fizzy drink makers and meat processing groups, which use carbon dioxide to stun animals, over supermarket shortages.
Earlier this week, the Government agreed a three-week subsidy deal to get production back underway at one of the UK’s most important fertiliser plants.
The Billingham site in Stockton-on-Tees, and its sister site at Ince in Cheshire, are responsible for 60 per cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide supplies, which is a by-product from fertiliser production.
The deal has delayed some of the worst immediate shortages, but bosses caution that this may not be enough to protect against another squeeze later this year. Costs for carbon dioxide are expected to surge.
Warburtons is among the companies considering whether they can reduce their use of carbon dioxide. A recipe change, while being looked at, is thought to be one of the most extreme options, and one Warburtons would not take lightly.
The company is understood to be looking at other options as well, including whether some of its crumpet factories may be able to increase production, if others run out of carbon dioxide later this year. In the longer term, it is considering increasing its carbon dioxide storage facilities.
Earlier this week, the company said the squeeze had yet to hit production at its factories, but cautioned that if more sites closed down, it could be affected.
A spokesman said: “Crumpet production hasn’t been affected by the CO2 shortage but we are working closely with our suppliers to monitor the situation.
“We are also assessing all options available to mitigate any future impact, including potential additional storage facilities. Our focus, as always, is on ensuring we continue to produce the best quality crumpets we can and meet demand.”
It comes amid warnings that there had been an “unprecedented” number of early orders for Christmas turkeys, and that there could be shortages.
Kate Martin, the chairman of the Traditional Farm Fresh Turkey Association, which represents producers of high-end free range turkeys, said some poultry farms have already had five times more orders this year than the same time in 2020.
