The boss of supermarket chain Co-op has said the current food shortages are the worst he has ever seen.
Steve Murrells' comments come after the British Retail Consortium called for the Government to act to help solve a shortfall in lorry drivers which has contributed to product shortages across UK industry. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: "The UK faces a shortfall of 90,000 HGV drivers and it is consumers who will ultimately suffer for this."
Mr Murrells, who is Co-operative Group chief executive, told The Times the shortages were "at a worse level than at any time I have seen" and revealed the company had reduced several ranges on offer in stores as a result of post-Brexit migration rules and coronavirus.
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Instead, the company is now retraining members of staff to drive lorries to help deal with the loss of drivers in the industry - with around 14,000 European drivers leaving the UK last year and only 600 returning.
On Tuesday, McDonald's restaurants in Wales, England and Scotland were unable to serve milkshakes after the burger chain was hit with supply chain issues. The fast food giant has also run out of bottled drinks at some 1,250 locations across Britain. Find out what happened when we tried to find a milkshake.
Earlier this month, Nando's said it had run out of chicken to serve at its restaurants. There are also concerns about Christmas with people being warned to buy presents early and warnings of a shortage of pigs in blankets.
The British Meat Processors Association is warning that staff and skills shortages could continue to hamper food production.
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