Dutch food company HAK, best known for its jars of apple sauce, brown beans and peas, is halting production for six weeks from January because of the uncertainty over energy prices.

The current high level is making it uneconomic to produce jars of preserved fruit and veg during the winter months, director Timo Hoogeboom said.

‘Current energy costs are exorbitant and up 10 times on a year ago,’ he said. ‘We are doing everything we can to cover the cost ourselves – like with this production break. But despite these initiatives, we cannot prevent significant price increases. It is painful, but unfortunately it is the reality.’

Supplies will not be affected because the harvest season will be over by then and pulses, the company’s other main staple, are more flexible in terms of production and storage.

National statistics office CBS said last week that inflation had topped 17% last month, thanks to rising fuel and food prices.