Stock image: A view of empty shelves at a Tesco supermarket in Manchester
(Picture: AP)Food prices face a “terrifying” rise, an industry body boss has warned MPs on Tuesday.
Chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation Ian Wright said inflation was running between 14% and 18% in the hospitality sector.
The trade body boss has told the BEIS committee ministers need to consider the “terrifying” rise in inflation amid the ongoing supply chain disruption in the UK.
“The committee really needs to think seriously about inflation,” he said.
“In hospitality, inflation is running between 14% and 18%, which is terrifying.
“If the Prime Minister is, as I know he is, serious about levelling up, inflation is a bigger scourge than almost anything because it discriminates against the poor.”
The chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation gave his reassurance the UK wouldn’t run out of food.
However, Mr Wright acknowledged there had been some shortages as seen on the shelves in the supermarkets.
He added: “We are not going to run out of food but there are some shortages, we have seen some problems with pigs and poultry, with some of these being solved.”
It comes as Asda launched a big pre-Christmas recruitment drive for 15,000 temporary workers.
