BREAD shortages could hit Northern Ireland after workers at a plant which supplies half of the north's loaves voted to strike on Friday.
Hovis's site in south Belfast is the largest bread producer in the north.
Sean McKeever, regional officer at trade union Unite, said the plant is already working at 115% capacity due to increased demand during the pandemic.
The Hovis site also makes Ormo-branded bread.
Mr McKeever said such is the demand for loaves in the north, Hovis also brings in bread from Britain every day.
Bread production workers at the Apollo Road site have asked for a 10% pay increase, with more than 90% of Unite members approving strike action.
"What they (the company) are offering is nowhere near what our people deserve," Mr McKeever said.
"We believe this is a reward for working and feeding the nation during Covid."
Unite is due to meet Hovis management on Thursday morning to discuss workers' concerns but has warned that in the absence of movement, there will be pickets from 6am on Friday.
"Our members, and those of the bakers' union, will be commencing all-out strike action after that time."
Mr McKeever confirmed that any industrial action will have a significant impact on bread production.
"If the strike takes place at 6am on Friday it will have an affect on bread supplies, there's no doubt about that," he said.
