[user104658]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

supermarkets have already stated its the Pingdemic

Stock shortages aren't because it's at the supermarkets with no one to put it to the shelves - they're also not because of a lack of stock in the country - the stock is in warehouses with a shortage of over 100,000 truck drivers. The current situation has been exacerbated by the "pingdemic" but there was already a shortage of 50k+ because of Brexit.

Basically we rely on the availability of European haulers picking up contracts even for goods made in the UK - and those contracts aren't worth as much because of border delays. It was at tipping point but just squeaking by - with no wiggle room - before the pingdemic... the pingdemic pushed it over the edge and goods are now stuck in warehouses instead of on shelves. It will balance out eventually because we CAN get haulers in - it's just that they're charging double what they used to. Haulage firms pay the haulers double, so they have to charge the supermarkets double, who then have to pass on that cost to the consumer... hence, there will be food on the shelves, but it will cost more. That doesn't happen over-night, the big companies swallow the cost for a while and the price increases will creep in slowly over the course of a few years... next week your £70 shop might cost £71, but keep a receipt from your next "big shop", do the exact same shop in 2023, and it will be very clear.

This is coming directly from someone in a relatively high up management position in haulage down in Dover, not Bob at ASDA, so I'm confident enough in my sources LT. A finger in every pie.