Waitrose and Ocado are the two latest supermarkets to call for a rethink of household tax on farms.
Nine major food retailers are now opposing tax changes to inheritance rules – which farmers say will force many farms to be broken up.
Supermarkets backing a pause and further consultation on the changes include Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, the Co-op, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons.
In a statement today, Waitrose said: 'Agriculture is the backbone of our food system and the British countryside, and we hear from our farmers that inheritance tax limits their ability to plan ahead. It is important that the government considers the impact of these changes and listens to the concerns of farmers.”
They also said they support a pause in the implementation of the estate tax changes.
An Ocado spokesperson said: 'We join the NFU's call for a consultation on inheritance tax. The proposed increase will impact on farmers' ability to continue to develop a resilient UK food system'.
Shortly after the October Budget, Sainsbury's urged ministers to 'listen to the concerns' of farmers over the tax changes.
Earlier this month, Morrisons told farmers 'we are with you' in their fight against Labour's move.
Farmers protest in Westminster against an increase in inheritance tax on November 19, 2024. Nine major food retailers have now voiced their opposition to the tax changes
Farmers protest in Westminster. Earlier this month, Morrisons told farmers 'we are with you' in their fight against Labour's move
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the tax change in the October budget
And last week Asda also offered their public support to farmers by backing a demand for a pause in Labour's implementation of the budget measures.
Today, Shadow Environment Secretary Victoria Atkins called on the Government to measure the number of farmers dying by suicide to 'understand the human cost' of the Government's changes to inheritance tax on farmland. of this terrible policy'.
The National Farmers' Union has warned that some farmers may commit suicide to avoid their heirs being hit with a 20 per cent inheritance tax.
But Chancellor of the Exchequer James Murray said the government's plans to impose a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1 million are a “fair approach”, with the current relief on business and agricultural assets “strongly targeted on the richest estates'.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance, said: 'Rachel Reeves and the Treasury appear increasingly isolated in their defense of the family farm tax as the policy backlash mounts.
“We have warned the Treasury that the complete lack of consultation with the rural sector has created serious ill will in rural areas and would only lead to a protracted battle. It is imperative that the government consults with relevant stakeholders and urgently reconsiders this policy.”
A Waitrose store. They are the latest supermarkets to call for a reconsideration of the family tax on agricultural holdings
Next month, MPs will hold another debate on the impact of the family tax after a petition – 'Don't change the inheritance tax exemption for working farms' – gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
Thousands of farmers took part in a protest outside Downing Street in November last year
Next month, MPs will again debate the impact of the family tax on farms after a petition – 'Don't change inheritance tax relief for working farms' – gathered more than 100,000 signatures.
The House of Commons Petitions Committee has agreed that a debate on the subject will take place on February 10 at 4.30pm.
Thirty local councils, including Cornwall, Suffolk and Northumberland, have also passed motions condemning the policy.
