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Food

Are you experiencing big gap in the shelves in your area?

(291 Posts)
Kali2 Mon 09-Aug-21 22:03:41

What are your stories and anecdotes about the current shortage on some shelves?

Theoddbird Wed 11-Aug-21 11:46:33

I had a click and collect the other day and got everything on my list.. no substitutions. I do hope people don't get stupid and start hoarding. Hoarding is so selfish.

Alioop Wed 11-Aug-21 11:44:16

Some empty shelves here in N.Ireland in some shops. There are rows of single packets and tins, but nothing more behind them, makes it look full. Fruit and veg doesn't seem to be a problem though thank goodness.

Juicylucy Wed 11-Aug-21 11:38:47

shelves empty of fresh produce and certain meats in large Tesco Hertfordshire.

GoldenAge Wed 11-Aug-21 11:34:11

There are lots of shortages all caused by Brexit hold ups. I don't shop in shops any more but on a regular weekly basis when I do my online shopping I see items that are not available, and when I look at amazon for imported items such as cat food of a particular brand, I see that what I could get next day delivery or in a couple of days is very much on the back-burner with delays of 3-4 weeks. It depends what you buy - if it's all local then things are OK, but as soon as you look for something that has to arrive from outside the UK there are delays - however, the Brexiteers among us will never admit this.

tippytipsy Wed 11-Aug-21 11:33:55

Forces HGV drivers are being drafted in as ambulance drivers. I assume that has a higher priority than lorry driving.

Caleo Wed 11-Aug-21 11:30:43

For the past two/three weeks there has been no Old Jamaica Ginger Beer.

JENMA Wed 11-Aug-21 11:30:01

I have found empty shelves both in Sainsbury's in Emmerson Green near Bristol, quite considerable about 3 on a saturday afternoon and also our local Waitrose at mamesbury is short on things.

bongobil Wed 11-Aug-21 11:28:20

In our local co-op seems shortage of bread and crisps. Also have had a problem getting pasta but some shops do have stock. A friend lives in Scotland and said there are a lot of shortages particularly sugar and bread.

sazz1 Wed 11-Aug-21 11:26:33

South Devon lots of empty shelves yesterday. Not much meat, cakes, or soft drinks e.g. orange squash. Read somewhere they are drafting in Forces HGV drivers in S W as it's particularly bad here

ElaineRI55 Wed 11-Aug-21 11:22:43

Lots of missing items and reduced choice I think. Looks like supermarkets have moved things around and put out more of the items they do have to make gaps less obvious.
I don't see things ironing themselves out at all. Brexit is just beginning to hit and things will get a lot worse with shortages of items and staff ( lorry drivers, agricultural workers, NHS staff) before we have any hope of them getting better. I think our children and grandchildren could be affected for decades unfortunately.

GranJan60 Wed 11-Aug-21 11:21:34

NO frozen veg (except chips) in Waitrose or sparkling water - DH likes although have tried to persuade him otherwise on eco grounds.
Both local Sainsbury and Hastings equally low recently.
Lucky at the moment have large supply of courgettes from allotment although weather ruined tomatoes.
Although Covid partly to blame certainly also an effect of Brexit which people disregarded and are still attempting to do so.

olliebeak Wed 11-Aug-21 11:19:04

I've noticed that some of my Gluten Free items have been disappearing from the shelves. This happened during the FIRST lockdown when the 'ordinary pasta' had run out - then everybody decided to clear the GF Pasta off those shelves.

As a Coeliac, I'm well aware that it never tastes quite as good as the regular stuff and that you have to be far more careful about how it's fast-boiled / stirred / timed - otherwise it'll be totally inedible. I'm afraid that I wished nasty cooking experiences on all those non-Coeliacs who cleared our shelves grinblush. Same thing happened with GF Breakfast Cereals.

I DID notice, however, that they didn't bother clearing our bread shelves ............................. ridiculously over-priced and not the nicest of breads [cry].

Barmeyoldbat Wed 11-Aug-21 11:18:05

Yes empty shelves here, Waitrose had huge gaps on the cereal shelf, the cat food area, tinned fruit and in the fresh veg area there was not so much choice. Sainsbury was not much better and prices have jumped a hell of a lot in all the shops. It is not going well.

JaneJudge Wed 11-Aug-21 11:14:01

No Älplermagronen, Switzerland

Subi Wed 11-Aug-21 11:11:45

No evian, and shortages of several items, Ipswich

Nannyme Wed 11-Aug-21 11:11:06

Where has all the pate gone, none on the shelves, Ocado sold out!

Lin663 Wed 11-Aug-21 11:10:16

Shortages in Southampton…Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Asda all have gaps in soft drinks, alcohol, fruit and veg and other bits and pieces through the stores

sandwichgeneration Wed 11-Aug-21 11:09:31

Waitrose, (South London/Kent), very poor. No cereal at all one day, similarly fruit and veg quite scarce some days. Not sure why, but the small Metro Tesco seems to do a better job, so it probably comes down to delivery companies/drivers and storage depots.

esgt1967 Wed 11-Aug-21 11:01:55

Loads of empty shelves at Tesco last night for various things, very annoying.

Casdon Wed 11-Aug-21 10:39:14

lemongrove your optimistic outlook about the HGV drivers is misplaced, there really is a serious problem which isn’t going to resolve itself in weeks, or even months. The impact of EU drivers leaving, the impact of Brexit on delivering to and from Europe, and the pandemic have exacerbated a pre-existing shortfall.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/57810729

Callistemon Wed 11-Aug-21 10:07:15

Anyway, a few years ago DH read about a poor olive harvest and possible hikes in the price of olive oil.

I read about a supposed shortage of rapeseed oil last year (on GN - you heard it here first!) so stocked up on just a couple of extra bottles and tried to keep one ahead since then (no panic buying in this house, I can assure you) but so far all seems well and there hasn't been a shortage.

It doesn't take long to start a rumour, though, spreads on the internet and shelves consequently stripped bare.

Callistemon Wed 11-Aug-21 10:02:39

It seems to be a combination of so many factors, some mentioned on here but what is reportedly causing the most chaos at the moment is the track and trace system causing so many to have to self-isolate - so-called "pingmania".

Add in no HGV training or tests, shortage of tin worldwide, no bubbles to put the fizz in the drinks etc etc and we have a perfect storm.

It's interesting, though, that this is the case in a few areas but not everywhere.

Lillie Wed 11-Aug-21 09:44:28

because algerias you have a balanced outlook and are not over fixated

as i am sadly on olive oil

Lillie Wed 11-Aug-21 09:42:02

yes mawbe i heard packaging is a problem too, maybe why there is a shortage of cat food in pouches

the albacore tuna i buy is in glass jars
it comes from Spain and as i said the one in water is plentiful

my next experiment is to buy the plain one drain it and soak it over night in olive oil from the bottle

Alegrias1 Wed 11-Aug-21 09:36:51

I try to mix my Brexit bashing in with a bit of Meghan support, Royal family hating and rampant Scottish nationalism. Makes the day more interesting.

Why would I want to disguise my Brexit bashing?