UK facing supply crunch thanks to COVID and Brexit

UK facing supply crunch thanks to COVID and Brexit

LONDON: Britain’s factories, restaurants and supermarkets are facing stubborn supply problems due to the COVID pandemic and Brexit, sparking calls this week for government help ahead of Christmas. US burger chain McDonald’s ran out of milkshakes and bottled drinks this week, blaming a lorry driver shortage that created supply chain issues and a slowdown in UK business activity.

Rival fast-food giant KFC was forced to remove some items from the menu, while restaurant chain Nando’s has temporarily shut 50 outlets due to a lack of chicken. Supermarkets are also feeling the heat, with frozen-food group Iceland and retail king Tesco warning of Christmas product shortages.

‘Sounding the alarm’

“The reason for sounding the alarm now is that we’ve already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute,” Iceland boss Richard Walker told the BBC. “I’d hate this one to be problematic as well,” he added, urging the government to classify foreign lorry (truck) drivers as skilled workers to allow more on the roads.

Britain’s powerful CBI business lobby warns retail and distribution stocks are at a record low. Walker estimates Britain currently faces a shortage of about 100,000 lorry drivers. “We’ve got a critical shortage now, which we can’t address simply by recruitment because