The boss of Iceland has warned ongoing delivery issues could effectively 'cancel' Christmas, as supermarkets struggle to replenish shelves due to a delivery driver shortage.
Richard Walker, the managing director of the frozen food giant, said stores were selling out of bread and “struggling to replenish as quickly as we need”.
It comes as the supermarket chain continues to grapple with a shortage of around 100,000 HGV drivers in the UK.
Iceland says it is down by around 100 drivers and last month announced plans to recruit an extra 2,000 staff.
All major supermarkets - including Big Four grocers Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Asda - have seen shelves left empty in recent weeks.
But Tesco boss John Allan urged people not to panic-buy.
"There may be some shortages", but people should not "over-dramatise" and panic-buy, he told the BBC.
"It's very easy to make a drama out of a modest crisis," Mr Allan added.
Are you still noticing empty shelves in your local supermarket? Get in touch: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk
Aldi and Lidl also responded to complaints from customers last month.
Speaking to Radio 4’s Today programme, Iceland chief executive Mr Walker said: “The reason for sounding the alarm now is that we’ve already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute and I’d hate this one to be problematic as well.”
He added: “We’ve had deliveries cancelled for the first time since the pandemic began, about 30-40 deliveries a day.
“Things like bread, fast-moving lines, are being cancelled in about 100 stores a day.
“Soft drinks are 50% less in terms of volume, so it is having an affect at shelf.”
He warned that the continuing problems will start to affect the Christmas period, saying Iceland starts to build stock from September onwards.
Mr Walker said: “We’ve got a lot of goods to transport between now and Christmas and a strong supply chain is vital for everyone.”
Speaking about whether the chaos had been caused by Brexit, he said: “Yes I think so. But it is a self-inflicted wound. I wouldn’t say it’s an inevitable consequence of Brexit.”
Mr Walker called on the government to add heavy goods vehicle drivers to the UK’s skilled workers list, to help get drivers recruited from overseas.
There is a large backlog in HGV driver tests, again linked to the pandemic, meaning it's been harder to get new drivers on the road.
The government says it has ramped up testing for lorry drivers, is paying for more apprentices and is allowing current drivers to increase their working hours.
Meanwhile, the boss of the Co-op today said food shortages are at the worst level he’s ever seen them.
Steve Murrells, chief executive of the Co-operative Group, also explained how shoppers could face less choice in stores as the grocer is reducing some ranges.
He blamed " Brexit and issues caused by Covid" for the recent disruption but didn't say what ranges could be slimmed down.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Murrells said: "The shortages are at a worse level than at any time I have seen.”
Last month, the Co-op announced plans to hire an extra 3,000 workers as it joined other supermarkets in apologising for poor stock levels.
