Yahoo Finance Restaurants buy Welsh mozzarella over fears of Brexit cheese shortages
Popular restaurant chains Zizzi and ASK are ditching their Italian mozzarella suppliers amid concerns over possible Brexit shortages and the environment.
Azzurri, the parent company of both brands, made the decision amid growing fears that a hard or no-deal Brexit will disrupt food supply into the UK.
A report by the British Retail Consortium had already warned last year that Brexit could lead to soaring cheese prices because of rising import costs.
The new product, which is made from Welsh milk, passed a blind tasting test by senior Azzurri staff, and is set to be introduced into ASK and Zizzi restaurants in the new year.
Kathryn Turner, director of food development at Zizzi, told the Press Association: “It has better stretch, a better flavour profile, it’s much creamier, it has a lot better quality product.”
READ MORE: Brits abroad could become ‘illegal’ under no-deal Brexit
Turner added that the food miles – the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer – of ingredients were also a factor in the decision. Food miles are one of the many things assessed when analysing the environmental impact of food.
The prices of several cheeses, such as Spanish manchego, Italian burrata and French comté have already risen dramatically in price since the Leave vote, and even cheddar could be ask risk as over 80% comes from Irish cheese-makers.
READ MORE: Labour MP calls for foie gras ban after Brexit
On top of this, the government’s own predicted “doomsday” scenario for a no-deal Brexit included severe food shortages within two weeks of leaving the European Union.
Zizzi and ASK are the latest of many food and drink companies to minimise potential damage to business post-Brexit.
In September, it was revealed that Swedish cider maker Kopparbeg will be moving some production to the UK. Premier Foods, Quorn and Fortnum & Mason have also said they are stockpiling products in anticipation of border delays.
