Retail trade boss warns if jams will not be cleared TODAY there can be shortages after Christmas

Hauliers have to be allowed to cross into France from the Port of Dover as we speak as Britain will see shortages on grocery store cabinets if the state of affairs if not resolved, specialists have warned.

‘Timing is essential’ with the backlog of lorries caught at Dover, say trade insiders.

The warnings come from the British Retail Consortium, the commerce affiliation for UK retailers, who’ve reassured the British public that there’s sufficient meals accessible for Christmas.

All of the substances and produce wanted for a conventional Christmas dinner are already within the nation and accessible to shoppers, they stated.

But when empty lorries will not be allowed into France to restock, there can be shortages of recent produce, with provides of salad, vegetable and recent fruit most danger as they’re sometimes imported from the continent a this time of yr.

Andrew Opie, director of meals and sustainability on the BRC, informed BBC Radio 4’s At present programme:  ‘Simply to be clear, there is definitely not an issue for Christmas.

‘There’s loads of meals within the provide chain and within the shops for the time being, so no one must be anxious about meals for Christmas dinners – there’s loads of meals for everyone and we are able to all store usually.

‘However there’s a downside probably straight after Christmas and that’s actually in recent produce, so we’re speaking right here about issues like salad, greens, recent fruit, of which the overwhelming majority come from Europe right now.

‘The timing is completely essential. This must be resolved. The borders actually must be operating just about freely from tomorrow to guarantee us that there gained’t be any disruption.

‘Simply to offer you an instance, 90 per cent of our lettuces and about 70 per cent of our gentle fruit right now of yr is coming in by these Channel ports.

‘These ports function a number of crossings each day, these are perishable merchandise, you may’t put them in a container and produce them to a different port, they must be pushed up from Spain.

Lengthy strains of consumers fashioned outdoors this M&S Foodhall in North Tyneside this morning from 7am

Queues started at supermarkets early this morning for a second day in a row after individuals started ready from 5.50am yesterday morning

The queues at this Cambridge grocery store have been already snaking across the automobile park earlier than dawn this morning

An enormous lengthy queue stretches across the Silverlink Retail Park in North Tyneside this morning as Christmas consumers wait in line at 7am for the M&S meals corridor to open

The early morning queues have been just like scenes from yesterday the place consumers waited in line outdoors one grocery store from 5.50am

There are considerations of shortages of recent produce after Christmas day if the state of affairs at Dover shouldn’t be resolved as we speak, specialists stated

The cabinets have been already emptied of some recent produce on the Tesco Native retailer in Wandsworth, London, this morning

‘They’ve bought a really brief shelf life on them, there is no such thing as a different to coming by Dover or Folkestone, and that’s why we’d like these ports and on the opposite aspect of the Channel to be working freely.’

Quantity 10 yesterday referred to as for calm as panic-buyers fashioned lengthy queues outdoors supermarkets. Individuals have been as a substitute urged to ‘store usually’ for all their festive staples after the French authorities pledged to ‘resume motion’ as quickly as attainable after a coronavirus journey ban plunged the nation into chaos.

The Port of Dover confirmed yesterday inbound lorries are coming into the UK, however queues of lorries ready to get to France from the important thing British port stretched for greater than 20 miles after the French introduced a brief 48 hour journey ban.

France closed their borders to UK travellers from 11pm on Sunday night time as massive swathes of the nation went into Tier 4 lockdown after the mutant Covid pressure unfold throughout elements of London and the south east.

International locations together with France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Austria, Denmark, Eire, and Bulgaria additionally introduced restrictions on UK journey following the outbreak of the brand new pressure throughout South East England.

International locations reacted after Mr Johnson introduced on Saturday that the brand new variant was as much as 70 per cent extra transmissible than the unique pressure as he put London and elements of the South East and East of England right into a two-week Christmas lockdown, with practically 18 million individuals in a brand new Tier 4.

The journey ban is ready to be lifted at 11pm tonight, nevertheless it could possibly be lifted earlier if negotiations between France and England attain conclusions.

Disaster talks are ongoing after France stated they’d solely settle for hauliers into the nation if that they had a unfavorable Covid check. However a row erupted over the place testing would happen.

Business bosses initially warned France‘s coronavirus ban on British lorries may cease hauliers bringing in very important festive meals provides prompting consumers to empty the grocery store cabinets yesterday, with queues of panic-buyers starting from 5.50am.

This Waitrose retailer in London additionally had lengthy queues forming on Tuesday morning as individuals tried to purchase their groceries earlier than Christmas

Business specialists urged individuals to not panic purchase and stated there may be sufficient produce within the nation for individuals’s Christmas dinner

Information that hauliers carrying important objects have been nonetheless being allowed to cross from France to the UK took a very long time to succeed in individuals on the tills, and panic shopping for continued for a lot of yesterday. 

Lengthy queues have been seen once more this morning with strains forming from 5.30am onwards. The Marks & Spencer Meals Corridor on the Silverlink Retail Park in North Tyneside noticed queues snaking across the automobile park. 

Explaining the present state of affairs in Dover, Mr Opie stated: ‘The downside truly is empty lorries. So the empty lorries now caught in Kent, they should get again to locations like Spain to select up the subsequent consignment of raspberries and strawberries, and they should get again within the subsequent day or so or we are going to see disruption.

‘Our view is so long as it may be cleared up as we speak, there’ll be minimal impression for shoppers. Bear in mind the retailers are shut on Christmas Day, which takes sooner or later of shopping for out of the equation, however these lorries which are caught in Kent, they do have to get again inside the subsequent day.

‘The opposite factor to say is no matter is agreed, we must be cautious is doesn’t add an excessive amount of friction to the provision chain, which in itself causes disruption by inflicting delays to the drivers while they’re being examined.’

He added: ‘We all the time thought there could be queues. It’s essential to bear in mind these are the busiest days for purchasing, the subsequent couple of days forward of Christmas, anyway.

‘And bear in mind all of the shops are nonetheless working all of their Covid protocols which suggests you may’t get as many individuals right into a grocery store as you’ll do usually.

‘So I’m afraid we all the time had seen that queues had been an inevitability. We’re not seeing the kind of extreme shopping for in any form of volumes that we noticed round that interval in mid-March, so individuals ought to simply bear in mind the shops are open for longer to attempt to get everyone in, however Covid protocols imply we are able to’t get as many individuals within the supermarkets, so I’m afraid there could also be a small quantity of queuing concerned.’

A client in Ashford, Kent, is noticed with very full trolley simply days earlier than Christmas as individuals rush to the retailers for festive provides

Chaotic scenes at Asda in Wandsworth, South West London as an enormous rush of consumers descended on the shop inflicting lengthy queues within the aisles. One man on the entrance of the queue seemed to be resting his eyes as he had been ready so lengthy

Consumers have a look at empty cabinets within the fruit and veg aisles at Asda in London this afternoon. Business insiders warned that there are a number of merchandise most vulnerable to shortages

A final turkey is seen on a shelf as individuals store at a Sainsbury’s retailer in London, which is now in Tier Four lockdown

This aged couple at a Tesco retailer in east London have a look at the empty cabinets this morning after many headed to the retailers to replenish for Christmas

Lengthy queues outdoors the Asda at Clapham Junction in South West London as individuals attempt to get Christmas purchasing

Crowds of consumers have been seen in a Tesco Further retailer in south east London as we speak as individuals flocked to supermarkets days earlier than Christmas

The cabinets have been emotied of recent inventory as massive numbers of consumers descended on supermarkets this morning amid information of a French journey ban. The Port of Dover has confirmed lorries carrying important objects at the moment are inbound from France

A spokesperson for quantity 10 stated Britain’s provide chains are ‘various and resilient’ and urged individuals yesterday to not react unnecessarily by emptying grocery store cabinets.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesperson stated: ‘We’ve got resilient provide chains and… it’s the case that almost all of our meals would not are available in by the brief straits.

‘Individuals ought to store usually and proceed to be thoughtful in the best way they store.’

Gadgets most vulnerable to shortages embrace salad leaves, citrus fruit, broccoli and cauliflowers, that are sometimes imported from the Continent right now of yr, trade specialists stated.

There have been additionally considerations perishable items could possibly be left rotting in ready vehicles because the border chaos led to additional lorry queues.

Consumers outdoors Asda at Clapham Junction in South West London as we speak as they decide up meals for Christmas

Individuals queue to get inside a Marks and Spencer department in North London for his or her Christmas meals purchasing this afternoon

Lengthy queues outdoors Asda at Clapham Junction in South West London as we speak, with simply 4 days to go till Christmas

Individuals queue outdoors a Publish Workplace in North London this afternoon as they ship some last-minute packages

This shopper started queueing outdoors a grocery store which already had a line of individuals ready at 5.50am as we speak

Lengthy strains began forming outdoors of this Waitrose superstore in Henleaze close to Brisol this morning as individuals tried to replenish on festive provides. This picture was posted on Twitter with the caption: ‘And so that is Christmas, within the queue for a turkey’

Sainsbury’s warned that some merchandise could possibly be lacking from cabinets if restrictions at ports continued, however stated meals for a conventional Christmas lunch is already within the nation.

A spokesperson for the grocery store large stated: ‘All merchandise for the Nice British Christmas lunch are already within the nation and we’ve got loads of these.

‘We’re additionally sourcing every part we are able to from the UK and looking out into different transport for product sourced from Europe.

‘If nothing adjustments, we are going to begin to see gaps over the approaching days on lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, broccoli and citrus fruit – all of that are imported from the Continent right now of yr.

‘We hope the UK and French governments can come to a mutually agreeable answer that prioritises the fast passage of produce and some other meals on the ports.’

Shellfish producers in Scotland additionally stated that they had tonnes of perishable merchandise stranded on roads because the French border was closed. Disruption in Britain may even snarl provides to Eire.

Warnings of grocery store shortages additionally comes amid fears {that a} Brexit deal won’t be reached earlier than the top of the yr, inflicting Britain to crash out of the EU.

Individuals braved the rain on the Waitrose retailer in Henleaze at 7.37am to attend in line and do their purchasing sooner than regular earlier than Christmas Day

Consumers in Sainsbury’s grocery store in north London earlier than 8am, shopping for festive groceries, simply 4 days earlier than Christmas day amid a French ban on British hauliers

The cabinets at this Sainsbury’s retailer have been wanting stark yesterday morning as lengthy strains of consumers started queuing at supermarkets throughout the UK amid fears the French journey ban may restrict meals provide chains

Yesterday morning consumers in north London have been seen ready for his or her flip to buy groceries as lengthy queues grew because the hours glided by

Supermarkets Aldi and Waitrose additionally had queues of consumers yesterday, with individuals posting photos on social media of the chaos

This particular person within the south east additionally noticed lengthy grocery store queues yesterday after the Tier Four Covid restrictions got here into power throughout massive swathes of the UK on Saturday night time

Some grocery store consumers are reporting seeing queues and empty cabinets just like these from the beginning of the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown.

Ameera Patel queued for 40 minutes within the rain outdoors her native Waitrose in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, on Monday morning.

‘(It is) one thing I have not seen since March, April time,’ the 40-year-old trainee monetary adviser informed PA yesterday.

Ms Patel stated cabinets have been properly stocked total, apart from on the bathroom roll aisle, the place some have been empty. ‘The ambiance was tremendous inside the shop, busy festive time … there did not look like a anxious really feel,’ she added.

Dan Forshaw, 39, stated there have been queues and a lot of empty meat and vegetable cabinets in his native Waitrose in Cambridge.

‘It was fairly surprising given it was solely 10.30am … I’ve shopped at that Waitrose for over six years and it is the primary time I’ve seen it like this round Christmas,’ the musician informed PA.

‘It wasn’t too unhealthy doing this within the spring however now it is moist, chilly and while the workers have been extremely useful, I am anxious I will not have every part for our household this Christmas.’

French borders have been closed yesterday morning after a 48 hour journey ban got here into power at 11pm final night time as a mutant pressure of the covid virus spreads throughout south east England

Indicators to ‘keep at residence’ have been broadcast to drivers on the M27 motorway close to Portsmouth in Hampshire, which was plunged into Tier Four on Saturday night time

Big queues fashioned on the Costco retailer in Trafford, Manchester this morning amid worries of meals provide shortages earlier than Christmas

The Asda retailer on London’s Previous Kent Street was additionally busy as we speak as consumers queued for the tills to pay for his or her purchasing

A number of supermarkets in Liverpool, Merseyside, are busy as we speak, with consumers pictured right here within the metropolis’s Tesco retailer

The Morrisons retailer in Liverpool can also be seeing shares lowered by the big numbers of consumers coming by their doorways

Cabinets have been emptying quick in an Iceland retailer in north London this morning as consumers rushed to purchase festive groceries

Staple objects like bread have been briefly provide at this Iceland grocery store in north London this morning

There was a rush of consumers pre-8am this morning at this Sainsbury’s retailer in north London with packed trollies seen on the tills

The Tesco retailer in Cirencester was busy this morning as individuals fashioned lengthy strains to do their Christmas meals store

Consumers have been seen selecting up turkeys for his or her Christmas dinner at this Asda retailer in London on Previous Kent Street

The cabinets have been emptied of sure canned items at this Asda retailer on Previous Kent Street, in south London, after the capital was plunged into Tier 4

Individuals have been seen in masks as they waited in line outdoors the Tesco retailer in Cirencester this morning

Recent produce was in in style demand with consumers as we speak as many stocked up on groceries forward of Christmas

Individuals patiently waited in socially distanced queues at this Waitrose retailer as we speak amid fears of shortages of some merchandise

‘Within the grocery store queue at 5.50 to get my fingers on blockade/Brexit lavatory roll’, one shopper posted on Twitter alongside an image of a line of individuals already queueing.

One other posted an image from a Waitrose retailer in Henleaze, south west England, which confirmed lengthy strains of individuals snaking across the automobile park within the rain. They captioned it with: ‘And so that is Christmas, within the queue for a turkey.’

Others stated the queues at their native grocery store have been the worst that they had seen in months.

The Aldi grocery store in Burpham, Guildford, had lengthy strains outdoors an hour earlier than it is opened its doorways.

Shopper Lucy Smith, 27, stated : ‘When the doorways opened there was a protracted queue Individuals had bought up so early, clearly fearing they may not get any meals for Christmas.

‘All of us went in and I noticed a number of individuals grabbing Yorkshire puddings from different peoples trollies. ‘I managed to get a pack of 4 Yorkshire puddings. However as I made my means by the shop, any person simply took them out of my trolley.

The chaotic scenes this morning included consumers preventing over Yorkshire puddings at an Aldi retailer in Burpham, close to Guildford, in response to shopper Lucy Smith, 27

Shares of toilet roll have been briefly provide this morning, echoing scenes from earlier within the pandemic when panic patrons stripped the cabinets of bathroom tissue

Washing powers and merchandise additionally seemed to be in style merchandise with consumers who flocked to the retailers this morning

A workers member outdoors a Morrisons grocery store in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Put on, dressed as Santa

Individuals have been seen stocking up on parsnips at Tesco Money and Carry in Cambridge on Monday morning because the supermarkets informed prospects to not panic purchase

Supermarkets warned that lettuce was among the many merchandise that will be vulnerable to scarcity if the border with France remained closed, as lettuce and salad is usually imported from the Continent right now of yr

‘Individuals have been truly arguing with one another over them. It is absolute insanity. And I assumed that issues have been unhealthy sufficient with out this nonsense.’

The British Retail Consortium beforehand urged consumers to not ‘filter’ the cabinets amid considerations over a no deal Brexit.

Earlier this month they stated retailers are ‘rising the inventory of tins, rest room rolls and different longer life merchandise so there can be ample provide of important merchandise’.

They hopes to keep away from a repeat of scenes seen earlier within the pandemic, when panic shopping for led to empty grocery store cabinets and restrictions on key objects.  Supermarkets beforehand restricted the sale of key objects similar to rest room roll, and staples similar to rice, flour and pasta.

However a French journey ban will result in shortages if ‘nothing adjustments’, the trade specialists stated.

The Port of Dover closed to all accompanied visitors leaving the UK for the subsequent 48 hours after France imposed an inbound journey ban. Pictured: Lorries queue on the M20 in Folkestone

One particular person on social media, who says they’re a truck driver, warned of a ‘humanitarian disaster’ approaching because the journey ban left many hauliers queuing at ports and alongside motorways throughout the UK

Opearation Stack was being carried out on the M20 in Kent final night time – when elements of the motorway are put aside to park lorries queuing for Channel ports

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) earlier warned the closure of France to UK visitors would create ‘difficulties’ for UK imports and exports within the busy Christmas interval.

Andrew Opie, the BRC’s director of meals and sustainability, stated any ‘extended’ disruption could be an issue within the run-up to the top of the Brexit transition interval on December 31.

‘Whereas items can enter from France, few haulage corporations can be prepared to ship vehicles and drivers throughout to the UK and not using a assure they’ll return to the EU in a well timed method,’ he stated.

‘This can be a key provide route for recent produce right now of yr.

‘We urge the UK Authorities and the EU to discover a pragmatic answer to this as quickly as attainable, to forestall disruption for shoppers. Retailers have stocked up on items forward of Christmas which ought to forestall fast issues.

‘Nonetheless, any extended closure of the French border could be an issue because the UK enters the ultimate weeks earlier than the transition ends on December 31.’

Individuals stocked up on lavatory roll on the Tesco Money and Carry in Cambridge on Monday as individuals flocked to the supermarkets

Liverpool’s Asda retailer noticed its cabinets depleted as we speak as consumers rushed to the grocery store for his or her Christmas purchasing

These ladies left with a full purchasing trolley after their festive groceries journey to the Asda retailer in Liverpool

Rest room roll and kitchen towel provides have been snapped up on the Liverpool superstore in Merseyside

The Port of Dover is a key UK port and a few 10,000 lorries a day journey by Dover, which accounts for 20 per cent of all items introduced and offered in UK. 

Solely lorries dropping off freight on the port earlier than driving again out once more have been allowed by yesterday.  

Hauliers coming to Britain from France will nonetheless be allowed in however there are fears that lorry drivers won’t journey to keep away from being ‘marooned’ within the UK.  

The Irish authorities additionally imposed a 48-hour ban on flights from Britain and stated ferries could be restricted to freight solely.  

The Port of Dover stated in a press release: ‘Because of border restrictions in France entry to the Ferry Terminal on the Port of Dover stays suspended to all accompanied visitors leaving the UK till additional discover.

‘Accompanied freight and passenger prospects are requested to not journey to the Port. Unaccompanied visitors continues to be allowed into France. All visitors into the UK is presently unaffected by these restrictions.’

However logistics corporations urged individuals to not panic purchase, saying that recent produce will nonetheless be accessible.  

Logistics UK, the enterprise group representing the complete trade with members from the highway, rail, sea and air industries, stated retailers can have taken steps to make sure there is no such thing as a scarcity of recent produce.

The organisation’s common supervisor Alex Veitch stated: ‘Consumers shouldn’t panic purchase – retailers can be making each effort to make sure there may be inventory inside the system, together with recent produce, and it’s important that we keep in mind that inbound visitors nonetheless has entry to the UK.

‘We’re sustaining shut contact with UK authorities to make sure that provides of recent produce can be found all through Christmas and the New 12 months.

‘Our recommendation to members is to examine with ports earlier than travelling, and hold in shut contact with drivers to make sure their welfare is maintained.’

Operation Stack was being carried out on the M20 in Kent yesterday. The system means elements of the motorway are put aside to park lorries queuing for Channel ports. Kent airport, which is presently closed has additionally been placed on standby to take 4,000 stranded HGVs.

Individuals took shelter from the rain as they queued outdoors a Tesco retailer in Cardiff, South Wales

Queues fashioned outdoors Cardiff’s Marks and Spencers as we speak as individuals rushed to the retailers to do final minute Christmas purchasing

Consumers within the centre of Bristol, as individuals in Tier 2 areas of coronavirus restrictions proceed with their Christmas preparations

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps additionally urged vacationers and hauliers to keep away from Kent ports or different routes to France for concern of additional carnage on the roads.

Street Haulage Affiliation (RHA) boss Richard Burnett, informed BBC Radio 4’s At present programme the federal government ought to deliver ahead their contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit within the New 12 months and use the measures to regulate the present journey ban chaos.

This included opening the truck parks in Kent, ready to take excessive numbers of automobiles ought to there ever be a troublesome post-Brexit transition interval.

One particular person on social media, who claims he’s a truck driver, posted on social media that he had been queueing in his lorry since Friday.

He warned of an impending ‘humanitarian disaster’ and stated there have been no bogs accessible for stranded truckers.

A 23 mile part of the motorway from Junction eight close to Maidstone and Junction 11 at Folkestone has been become a lorry park to keep away from congestion within the Port of Dover and on the tunnel.

The Highways Company stated: ‘All drivers – together with all hauliers – are being suggested to keep away from travelling to Kent ports till additional discover as a part of the coastbound M20 is getting used to stack lorries as a result of cross channel journey restrictions.

‘Because of this, Operation Stack has been activated between junctions eight for Maidstone East and junction 11 for Westenhanger.

Operation Stack is the place elements of the M20 are closed to queue lorries which are travelling in direction of the continent, to keep away from inflicting gridlock throughout Kent’s highway community.

‘The measures comply with the French authorities’s announcement it won’t settle for any passengers arriving from the UK for the subsequent 48 hours, and the following closures of the Port of Dover and Channel Tunnel.

‘Highways England is working carefully with the Division for Transport, Kent Resilience Discussion board, Kent Council and Kent Police to make sure contingency measures are urgently put in place to handle disruption.’

The newly launched Tier Four restictions imply all non important retailers and retailers will shut in areas together with London, Kent, Essex, Surrey- excluding Waverley – and Bedfordshire.

Individuals queue outdoors a Waitrose grocery store in Harrow, London, with many carrying masks as they waited outdoors

The scenes in Harrow have been just like these witnessed at supermarkets throughout the UK, with lengthy queues persevering with all through the day as individuals flocked to get their groceries

It got here after the French introduced a journey ban, however stated they’d try to reopen the border inside hours after the closure precipitated chaos within the UK

Non-essential toys and video video games have been blocked off by circumstances of beer on the Asda retailer in Cardiff following the Welsh authorities lockdown announcement

Aisles of toys are unavailable on the market in an Asda grocery store in Wales as they’re deemed a ‘non-essential’ merchandise

The merchandise have been blocked off to consumers underneath the newly imposed Welsh coronavirus lockdown guidelines

Candles and different objects within the store got labels telling shoppers to not buy them as they did their grocery purchasing

The be aware stated objects deemed ‘non-essential’ underneath the ‘firebreak’ lockdown rules wouldn’t be offered

Supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations remained on the Authorities’s permitted record – as do the less-obvious Christmas tree retailers, dry cleaners, archery and capturing ranges and out of doors using centres.

The final minute annoucement gave Britons simply eight hours to finish their present purchasing forward of Christmas Day earlier than the principles kicked in at midnight.

Excessive streets and trains in Tier Four areas have been left abandoned yesterday as all non-essential retailers closed their doorways. Tube stations have been equally empty after journey out of the capital was restricted.

Individuals within the highest band of restrictions additionally can’t combine indoors with anybody not from their family.

It got here as Wales was additionally thrust right into a full lockdown from midnight on Saturday – forcing all non-essential retailers to shut their doorways and slashing Christmas bubbles to a single day. Non-essential toys and merchandise have been additionally blocked off by circumstances of beer at one grocery store in Cardiff.