France’s move to block freight from the UK following the discovery of a much more contagious strain of the coronavirus has shone a light on Britain’s food supply.
The £200 billion food and grocery market had already been preparing for the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December when deliveries from the European Union will be disrupted, whether or not a trade deal is agreed.
The EU is the UK’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly one third of the country’s food, but in January a much higher proportion of fruit and vegetables is imported from the EU relative to the summer.
For example, the UK sources 85 per cent of its tomatoes from the EU in January, falling to 30 per cent by June in the UK growing season, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), which groups more than 170 major retailers including supermarkets and other shops.
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Tesco and Sainsbury’s, Britain’s two biggest supermarket groups, said on Monday that gaps would start to appear on supermarket shelves within days if transport ties with mainland Europe were not quickly restored.
In preparation for all eventualities on 1 January, the supermarket groups, independent retailers and wholesale firms have been increasing their stocks of tins, toilet rolls and other longer life products.
The move, also being mirrored by manufacturing groups and construction firms, had already pushed up the price of freight deliveries in recent weeks as firms struggled to meet the huge demand to bring goods into the country before the year-end.
The suspension of trade plus the post-Jan. 1 disruption will be most keenly felt in the fruit and vegetable sector. Sainsbury’s said it was looking for alternative transport for produce sourced from Europe. Air cargo is one alternative option but it is again much more expensive.
The discovery of the new strain of the coronavirus has also disrupted the Christmas plans of millions of British people, with those living in London and surrounding areas ordered to stay at home and not travel over the festive period.
Large queues snaked around stores in London, as shoppers had to rethink their plans.
Retailers will be hoping to avoid the panic buying that gripped the country earlier this year when shelves were stripped bare before the first national lockdown.
The BRC and supermarket groups have both warned that if Britain leaves the bloc without a free trade deal the imposition of tariffs would force them to raise prices to mitigate the additional costs.
Under Britain’s new tariff schedule, which would apply from 1 January if a deal is not agreed, 85 per cent of foods imported from the EU would face tariffs of more than 5 per cent, the BRC said.
Tesco has said consumers should expect price rises of between 3 per cent and 5 per cent. The government has disputed those figures, saying the impact would be less than 2 per cent.
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