Fresh supply issues causing sporadic empty store shelves

Shoppers across the country are once again reporting empty store shelves, second time in six months. 

Britons are taking up the shortage issue on social media with pictures of empty shelves. Fresh fruit and vegetables and cold goods are particularly in short supply, customers say.

Realise this is old news/new normal. But went to @asda in Brighton…6pm. Amazing shelves still like this, even allowing for recent holidays. What’s up @ColdChainShane ??

Genuine Q. Is it same in France or Germany?? Anyone? #supplychainmanagement #brexit pic.twitter.com/zrMaLf2w9m

— Peter Foster (@pmdfoster) January 4, 2022

While new Brexit rules are being blamed for shortage this time, some people also say it is down to soaring numbers of workers self-isolating because of Covid.

Reported shortage of food has been sporadic. While shoppers in places ranging from south London, Hampshire and Essex to Leicestershire and south Wales said they were unable to buy fresh produce, posting photographs on social media of the empty shelves, many others reported otherwise.

Sainsbury’s appeared to be most affected but people said they had also seen empty shelves in Lidl, Morrisons and the Co-op.

A Sainsbury’s spokeswoman, however, has denied the shortage reports saying that availability of goods was strong so any reduction in stock was isolated and for a brief time.

The Co-op said it was not experiencing any unusual or significant availability issues, reports said.

Saying that empty store shelves must be “isolated incidents”, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, which represents retailers, said, “Our members continue to work round the clock to ensure that shelves remain stocked, and consumers can purchase the products they need.

Meanwhile, post-Brexit new border checks now seem to be showing its effect as reports of long queues of lorries forming in Calais came-in on Thursday (6) after new import controls on goods from the EU came into effect on Jan 1.

Lorry hold ups seem to be emerging as a major issue as drivers with wrong paperwork are turned back, resulting in a jam-like situation at the French port.

Well if you wanted to see what brexit has done to all incoming commercial traffic . This is Calais port now – queuing for miles outside the port to get in . Hours waiting now . I hate this shit pic.twitter.com/hfXGr6d4vR

— ciaran the euro courier 🇪🇺🇮🇪 (@vanmaneuro) January 6, 2022