Logistics firm helps solve ‘scary scarcity’ of Halloween pumpkins
A UK-based logistics business with close links to the confectionery sector has pledged that Halloween will not be a horror show despite Covid 19 and freakish 2020 weather causing a scary scarcity of ‘monster’ pumpkins this year.
Despite high temperatures and low rainfall over the summer restricting the growth of British and European pumpkins triggering lower harvest yields and putting upward pressure on wholesale prices, Coventry-based IPP, one of Europe’s leading poolers of sustainable wooden pallets to the retail sector, has reported steady business from its growers.
IPP, which also helps deliver tens of millions of confectionery buckets top supermarkets for ‘trick or treaters’, said its volumes have been equally unaffected despite the fear of a reduction in doorstep activity triggered by Covid-19.
In previous poor harvest years, such as 2018 where the UK was hit by the ‘beast from the east’, IPP worked with the growers to source and deliver pumpkins from other parts of the UK.
“This is one of our busiest times of year and volumes of pumpkins and trick or treat sweets are steady,” said Phil Storer, IPP’s director for UK & Ireland which works with market gardeners and growers across the country to deliver the gourds and fiendish fare to the nation’s leading retailers.
“We work with some of the UK’s biggest growers and we also represent a number of well-known confectionery businesses that busy providing millions of sweets at this time of year.
“The fact that there less trick or treat door-knocking has not scared off those who love to dress up – households are throwing their own Covid-safe parties to mark the occasion and this has maintained demand in all things Halloween.
“The UK may be living through difficult times, but Brits are creative when it comes to celebrating their landmark events. When supply problems present themselves, we plan and deliver alternative strategies and this year has been no different,” added Storer.
