Major UK supermarkets have stopped selling disposable BBQs due to concerns about wildfires. Asda discontinued sales this week, while Tesco and the Co-op halted them last month. Sainsbury’s will not sell disposable BBQs until August 12. Wilko and The Range are also removing them from stores and online. Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose, and M&S have not sold disposable grills since 2022.
The decision comes amid ongoing hot and dry weather in the UK, with the Met Office confirming it as the driest July for England and Wales in 190 years. The dry conditions have increased the risk of wildfires, with over 700 wildfires reported this year, including incidents in Dunwich, Suffolk, and the Rhondda Valley in Wales.
Retailers are following guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), which advises against selling disposable BBQs until next Wednesday. Inga Becker-Hansen, Products Policy Advisor at the British Retail Consortium, emphasized the importance of prioritizing customer and environmental safety.
Labour MP Jon Pearce has called for a mandatory ban on disposable BBQ sales, urging all retailers to comply with NFCC guidelines to prevent wildfires. He highlighted the need for long-term planning to address the impact of climate change on fire risks.
Co-op and Tesco spokespeople reiterated their commitment to responsible retailing by adhering to NFCC guidance and temporarily suspending disposable BBQ sales due to the current weather conditions.