The boss of a major supermarket chain has described current food shortages as the ‘worst he’s ever seen’.
Staffing problems caused by Covid and Brexit are wreaking havoc on the food industry with many retailers experiencing major issues getting products to stores.
Co-op chief Steve Murrells says his supermarkets are having to reduce some ranges due to the ongoing issues.
He told The Times: ‘The shortages are at a worse level than at any time I have seen.’
Mr Murrells, 56, blamed ‘Brexit and issues caused by Covid’ for the crisis. Co-op, which has 4,000 stores in the UK, is now having to re-train staff as lorry drivers to try to address issues in the supply chain.
It is estimated that there are currently 90,000 vacancies in the haulage industry after around 14,000 European lorry drivers left the UK last year.
McDonald’s was the latest major name to experience problems yesterday, when it had to take milkshakes off the menu at most of its UK restaurants due to problems transporting ingredients.
Industry bodies have also warned that Christmas favourites like pigs in blankets could be in short supply comes the festive season.
The British Meat Processors Association chief executive Nick Allen blamed the Government’s immigration policies for staffing challenges faced by many companies.
He said that on average BMPA members are around 12%-13% short on staff, with one company missing about a fifth of its workforce.
He said usual demand for pigs in blankets – sausages wrapped in bacon – reaches about 40 million packets, but a shortage of labour to make them could mean production is cut by a third.
Meanwhile, online retail titan Amazon is offering new warehouse recruits a £1,000 joining bonus as it looks to attracts staff before the busy Christmas period.
The group is advertising for ‘urgently needed’ warehouse pickers and packers across the UK, paying an hourly rate of as much as £11.10 an hour, rising to £22.20 an hour for overtime.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said consumers will ultimately suffer due to the problems.
‘So far, disruption has been minimal thanks to the incredible work by retailers and their suppliers,’ she said.
‘Retailers are increasing pay rates, offering bonuses and introducing new driver training schemes, as well as directly supporting their suppliers in the movement of goods, but Government will need to play its part.
‘We are calling on the Government to rapidly increase the number of HGV driving tests taking place, provide temporary visas for EU drivers, and to make changes on how HGV driver training can be funded.’
MORE : McDonald’s runs out of milkshakes across all its UK restaurants
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