Horseradish, a traditional seasoning of Ukrainian cuisine, has temporarily disappeared from the shelves of a number of supermarkets, according to customers and chains. In some chains (including regional ones in Kharkiv), horseradish-based sauces are not available both offline and online; in other points of sale, the products are still available, but these are mostly old stocks.
According to retail chains, there are two large domestic horseradish producers on the market - Vinnytsia Food and Flavor Factory and TM "Veres". In the summer of 2025, due to drought, late rains, and a shortage of labor in the villages, producers did not have enough raw materials, so some batches had to be supplemented with imports. This caused a temporary increase in prices and disruptions in supplies.
In response to the request, ATB noted that the problem was seasonal and related to a poor harvest and a shift in the harvest dates; the chain assured that the products of the TM "Veres" are already in stock, and supplies from Vinnytsia will be resumed after the new harvest is completed. "EKO-Market" also reported that they expect supplies to resume approximately from October 15.
Buyers complain that the situation is different in different stores, even within the same chain, and new batches of horseradish are not arriving — if the product is available, it is old stock. Representatives of some chains did not respond to journalists' inquiries.
Agricultural experts note that horseradish is not a priority crop in state statistical calculations, so there are no detailed harvest estimates. At the same time, the factors that influenced the seasonal deficit - drought, shifting harvests, and a shortage of workers in the village - are typical for 2025 and affected not only horseradish producers.
At the same time, experts are paying attention to other sectors with signs of shortages or pressure on prices. In particular, in livestock farming, there is a decrease in the number of pigs due to the destruction of farms in front-line areas, which has already led to a significant increase in meat imports and pressure on prices. UCAB analysts emphasize that imports have become an alternative source of raw materials and may remain significant until the domestic livestock increases.
The economic aspect of the horseradish shortage indicates that in a free market economy there will be no real Soviet-style shortage—producers will resort to imports when necessary. At the same time, this means that buyers will temporarily “feed” foreign farmers, and local suppliers may lose the market.
Current assessment: the horseradish shortage is seasonal and temporary; chains expect supplies to resume once the harvest is complete, approximately from mid-October, but the risks of continued shortages are partly due to general problems in the agricultural sector - a lack of personnel and the consequences of hostilities in the east, which affect supplies and production.
