Stocks of bananas are being monitored in Bay of Plenty supermarkets as New Zealand faces a shortage of one of its favourite fruits this week.

Adverse weather conditions and mechanical faults are being blamed for a banana shortage nationwide, with some supermarkets running out of bananas thanks to orders being cut back in the face of limited supplies.

Foodstuffs hopes to have a full supply of bananas by the end of the week.

Foodstuffs spokesperson Antoinette Shallue says allocation of stock is being continually monitored with all stores, including those in the Bay of Plenty, receiving daily deliveries, albeit at slightly reduced volumes compared to normal.

Foodstuffs owns New World, Four Square and Pak ‘n' Save supermarkets around the country.

'As a result of these slightly reduced volumes some stores have been selling out before the end of the trading day.”

Banana supplies were already lower than normal due to adverse weather affecting growing conditions, but mechanical problems forced a shipment of New Zealand-bound Dole bananas to return to the Philippines a couple of weeks ago.

Antoinette says this means New Zealanders are sometimes struggling to find their favourite fruit on the shelf.

'Foodstuffs source its bananas through several supply channels, and we were able to manage the shortage by increasing our commitment through this period with other suppliers.

'Once the shortage was identified, we were able to ascertain the volume we did have available and have managed the supply accordingly, with minimal disruption to our customers.”

Antoinette says they hope to have their banana supply returned to normal by the end of the week.

'We apologise to any customers who have been impacted by the reduced supply issues we have been experiencing.”