Any stepping up given the news coverage recently?

[Scramblinghealingdreaming]

I admit to being a little worried. I don't believe half of what is in the media HOWEVER I popped to my little town Nisa last week and they have notices apologising for shortages in stock items.

The manager told me they generally have 800 crates delivered weekly but only had 300 this week which was shocking for them. My local Aldi on the other hand seemed fully stocked (but I am aware of tricks used to appear so when not despite shortages).

I am just wondering what established preppers might be concentrating on for the coming months?

[LadyofMisrule]

I thought the preppers board would be humming by now, given the current and predicted supply problems.

[Teaand]

I am starting to look at my stocks. Today I was in a supermarket which had hardly any ceral. My husband stated the snack Isle was empty a few weeks ago I another.

I normally start thinking about Christmas as the children go back to school. I might do it quicker this year normally I buy one or two items in each shop as they go on offer to hide away.

[AdoraBell]

So far, coffee and chocolate. Shops here have some fairly big gaps. I really need to organise.

[PersonaNonGarter]

The supply issues are unlikely to be to food though. It’s longer supply chains that are most at risk - so delivery of eg fake Christmas trees. Real ones should be easier to get hold of

[BiddyPop]

I am doing a restock, but partly because back to school offers are on things we tend to use a lot of and had run down over summer. And I got great yellow sticker offers in M&S during the week, strangely (e.g. pasta less that half price so I bought 6 packets, and left plenty on the shelf, and a few spice mixes in jars which are dated 2023, as well as a couple of packs of salmon darnes that were perfect to freeze).

I am worried, but there are no major holes appearing so I am just making sure that I have my normal levels of supplies again after a busy summer (what I need for this week, plenty of non-perishables for about 2-3 weeks, and always having a replacement as well as the open item for cleaning materials etc). And as we change from summer lemonade to winter hot chocolate types of things, some items are getting changed on the lists (also, less salad/bbq dinners and more stews/1tray oven dinners etc).

[EzzieLove]

Really just making sure I have plenty of the items we use a lot, such as rice, tinned toms, pasta, chicken, etc. And pet food as I would not want grumpy hungry dogs. Christmas does not worry me too much. Hopefully will get to spend it with my daughter this year which will be nice after last years disappointments. Have noticed a few gaps and missing items such as carton orange juice, low levels of meat. Seems to come in waves, something will be missing for weeks then it will reappear but another item will be gone from the shelves. I think things are going to get worse before they get better, with all the heat waves, fires, floods etc and ongoing pandemic. Food growing, manufacturing and supply chains are under attack from all angles it seems.

[BlackeyedSusan]

Not stepping up now. The shortages are here so just going on replace and Christmas earlier than normal.

[AdoraBell]

I ordered 4 packs of beef last week, frozen those and this week ordered 3 packs of minced beef. We’re away for a few days, DDs still at home so I anticipate empty cupboards/fridge when I get back 🤦‍♀️.

[ifonly4]

I managed to get everything I wanted so can't complain, but Tescos was noticably low on fruit, veg, some tins, toilet rolls, Whiskers cat food and wine yesterday. I only wanted five things to didn't venture into every aisle, so could well be that other items were low.

[BlackeyedSusan]

Unusually I had 2 subs and one out of stock yesterday from Morrisons delivery. They are usually very good. The website was significantly less full and a few things were unavailable the night before. When the kids are finally back to school I will be able to go to Asda to check in person.

We discussed this yesterday in a chat Zoom with people who are not generally preppers/ prepared and have noticed shortages. It is filtering through to general population.

[AdoraBell]

DH went to Sainsbury’s a couple of days ago. He said there were large gaps in the fresh produce isles, hardly any veg, salad or fruit.

[Teaand]

I have several fresh items on my delivery just unavailable today rather than substituted. I will get a chance to go on tomorrow wh out the children and will see what I can get.

[Scramblinghealingdreaming]

I was in Tesco and Aldi this week and I was able to see first hand what broadcasters and journalists have been warning of. And this is just the start.

If it continues like this, the shelves will be bare in some sections within no time.

I am really hoping that the powers that be in the buying chain are lobbying and working like mad to get this sorted out before it becomes problematic.

I have been in other countries and seen bare shelves and it is horrifying to think we can face that in this country.

You would think not wouldnt you, but then again the world is a strange place these days!

[BlackeyedSusan]

There are lots of things going on in our country you would not expect, not just specific food shortages.

[BlackeyedSusan]

Arse. We are not likely to return to the just in time system as apparently it is broken according to reports on R4. No more being able to get what you want when you want it every time.

[BlackeyedSusan]

Therefore I am going to make sure that I keep the supplies at maximum without falling over it in the flat.
It helped when we could not get raisins for two months.... However, to have 2 months of X product which worked out as useful I have also got two months of other stuff as well collecting dust.
Pain in the arse requiring regular pulling out, date checking, sorting, restocking.

Autistic kids and allergies and hypermobility...

[BlackeyedSusan]

(Not so much stepping up but I am no longer stepping down)

[1Dandelion1]

Just maintaining my 'usual' organised pantry, maybe I'll add an extra item or two but only its something we use anyway.

Biggest issue I have at the moment is pantry grazers who don't tell me when they use/open the last of something!

[TheDrsDocMartens]

Yes, maintaining rather than stocking up

[Florasteddy]

Maintaining here too. We have gathered plenty of shelf stable goods over time and we just keep it turning over now.
I'm going to be really pissed off if there are shortages and people blame preppers for it, when we've been doing it for years now.

[GlobalForce]

I was speaking to a member of the supermarket staff and was told that there is a tin shortage cauisng pet food shortages.

Is there anything else I should stock up on?

[ilovebagpuss]

The BMPA says there is about 14 days supply of meat currently before there is a a very short supply due to the Co2 shortages.
Quite a lot on Twitter currently about the food shortages and future shortages.
Meat is already in short supply in my local Co-op so I’m guessing it will dwindle even more.

[GlobalForce]

ilovebagpuss

Can you please link to some of these tweets?

[KleineDracheKokosnuss]

I’m just maintaining. Sadly I have slightly less room at present due to a move, but still have at least 2 months worth on hand. Not overly worried. Things could get rocky but I’m still well placed to handle it.

[gibletjane]

If I stock up now isn't that going to cause a problem & be no different to panic buying