Home Breaking NewsRetailers complaining food is struggling to reach shelves due to lorry driver shortage

Retailers complaining food is struggling to reach shelves due to lorry driver shortage

by LLB staff reporter
2nd Jul 21 10:15 am

Many retailers including Tesco and Currys PC World have been complaining for months over issues that food and other items are not hitting their shelves.

Swiss giant Haribo are also struggling to get stock in stores around the UK due to an enormous shortfall of lorry drivers.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said there is a shortfall of around 60,000 drivers with some 30,000 of lorry driver tests having not happened due to the pandemic.

The confectionery business Haribo who are responsible for Starmix and Tangfastics, said, โ€œAs is the case with many manufacturers and retailers throughout the country, we are experiencing challenges with regards to the nationwide driver shortage.

โ€œWe are working with partners across the food and drink industry to address and respond to this problem.โ€

Experts are warning that the sector has the โ€œperfect stormโ€ brewing as there is not enough drivers in the UK.

Brexit also has a part in the lorry driver shortage as drivers are not sure of their rights to work in the UK, the RHA has said.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, recently said: โ€œRetailers are aware of a fall in HGV driver numbers, resulting in minor disruption to some supply chains.

โ€œSupermarkets are working closely with their suppliers to ensure that consumers still have access to the same great selection of goods.

โ€œGovernment must rapidly increase the number of HGV driving tests taking place while also looking for a longer-term solution to this issue.โ€

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