Factory owners have issued warnings that their stock levels are at dangerously low levels – the worst situation since records began. The Co-Operative Group’s Chief Executive, Steve Murrells, said to The Times that the shortages are “at their worst level than any time I’ve seen.”

The disruptions to the supply chain for retailers has been caused in part by a reduced number of HGV (heavy goods vehicle) drivers. It has been estimated that from 14,000 to 25,000 drivers from the EU left the UK in 2020.

There have been reports from McDonald’s, which ran out of milkshakes and bottled drinks, as well as a number of Nando’s restaurants being closed due to shortages of chicken.

Iceland’s Managing Director, Richard Walker, told the newspaper of the danger of disruption at Christmas if the government doesn’t intervene: “We have got Christmas just around the corner, and in retail, we start to stock build from September onwards. We have got a lot of goods to transport by Christmas, and the supply chain being strong is vital. The reason I am sounding the alarm now is that we have already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute during the pandemic. I would hate for this Christmas to be a problem as well.”

The government has been asked by the industry to relax visa rules to allow EU truck drivers to return to the UK, but it rejected the calls.