LONDON (Daily Mail) – British shoppers could face a summer of food shortages due to a shortage of more than 100,000 lorry drivers, experts warned.
A double impact from Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic has sparked a staff shortage after Eastern European drivers returned home, The Daily Mail reported.
And the disruption to the chilled food supply chain could result in shelves being empty of some data-x-items within weeks, industry insiders say.
In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, industry leaders have called for urgent intervention to allow Eastern European drivers back into the country, similar to those issued to farm pickers, adding them to “shortage occupation” lists.
They have warned that without government intervention, British supply chains risk “failing at an unprecedented and unimaginable level”.
The issues was previously raised by Tesco bosses at a meeting with Transport Minister Lady Vere last week, warning that growing vacancies were creating 48 tons of food waste each week.
Tesco bosses said the shortage was impacting fresh food with a short shelf life the most.
As the UK approaches the summer holidays and the continued reopening of the country following lockdown, there are concerns that the shortages will coincide with major sporting events.
It also warns that retailers across the country could be impacted as the country builds towards Christmas 2021 from August to September.
The letter was signed by industry groups including the Food and Drink Federation, British Frozen Food Federation, Cold Chain Federation, British Beer and Pub Association and the British Meat Producers Association.
“We firmly believe that intervention from the prime minister/Cabinet Office is the only way we will be able to avert critical supply chains failing at an unprecedented and unimaginable level,” the letter reads.
“Supermarkets are already reporting that they are not receiving their expected food stocks and, as a result, there is considerable wastage,” it added.