# Looks aren’t everything – British supermarkets to stock misshapen fruit amid drought Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-08-25 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: British Supermarkets to Stock Misshapen Vegetables to Meta Description: Lidl and Waitrose relax guidelines to tackle food waste and help farmers during drought. Quality produce with different appearance to hit shelves. URL: https://financedigest.com/looks-arent-everything-british-supermarkets-to-stock-misshapen-fruit-amid-droughthtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-08-25t141635z1lynxmpei7o0ncrtroptp4britain-eu-food-1-1736815370001-compressed.jpg) By Sachin Ravikumar LONDON (Reuters) – Two British supermarket chains will stock bent carrots and other misshapen fruit and vegetables on their shelves in an effort to support farmers hit by drought after a heatwave. Normally such produce would not make the grade. But German-owned [discounter Lidl GB and upmarket retailer](https://www.financedigest.com/online-discounts-boost-struggling-uk-retailers-in-july.html "Online discounts boost struggling UK retailers in July") Waitrose said they would relax size and shape guidelines for fruit and vegetables affected by the drought. The move will also help tackle [food waste](https://www.financedigest.com/ikeas-restaurants-has-more-than-halved-food-waste-since-2017.html "IKEA’s restaurants has more than halved food waste since 2017"). Whilst the crop coming out may look and feel a bit different to what we’re all used to, it’s still the same great British quality,” Lidl GB [Chief Executive](https://www.financedigest.com/exotix-draws-sberbanks-us-chief-executive-in-triple-hire-to-extend-global-capabilities.html "Exotix Draws Sberbank’s US Chief Executive in Triple Hire to Extend Global Capabilities") Ryan McDonnell said in a statement. The steps should help farmers make up for any shortfall in overall [yields due to dry weather and low](https://www.financedigest.com/german-real-yields-fall-to-new-record-lows-on-stagflation-fears.html "German real yields fall to new record lows on stagflation fears") rainfall. Large parts of England are officially in a drought for the first [time since](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-arsenal-reach-womens-champions-league-semis-for-first-time-since-2013.html "Soccer-Arsenal reach Women’s Champions League semis for first time since 2013") 2018 following the driest summer for 50 years, forcing water companies to restrict water usage to safeguard supplies. Waitrose said its latest efforts were part of an existing programme to [sell](https://www.financedigest.com/big-bank-ceos-to-sell-lawmakers-on-relief-diversity-efforts-amid-economic-regulatory-challenges.html "Big bank CEOs to sell lawmakers on relief, diversity efforts amid economic, regulatory challenges") misshapen vegetables in an effort to reduce food waste. A University of Edinburgh study in 2018 estimated a third of fruit and vegetable produce across Europe never reaches supermarket shelves because it fails to meet appearance standards, [leading to more than 50 million tonnes of food waste each year](https://www.financedigest.com/2022-the-year-that-facial-recognition-will-lead-the-fintech-industry.html "2022 – The year that facial recognition will lead the fintech industry"). Waitrose also said it would divert millions of carrots and other misshapen vegetables into its own label soups, ready meals and smoothies. (Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Angus MacSwan) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---