Empty shelves - how bad is it around you?

[Orangejuicemarathoner]

I'm currently visiting London, from the South coast.

Sainsbury's was a shocker

Whole fridges empty, with their shutters down.

Most other shelves a third full at best

Last time I went to the shops was about a week ago, on the south coast, and it wasn't that bad then, although I can't say about now. Some groceries missing, nothing like this

Shortage London/Herts, not been able to get water or bleach. Have to go early. Managed to get some bottled water from Lidl

Our local supermarket didn't have fresh milk for about a week in August. The frozen veg section is missing specific items across all brands (like sweetcorn). I have a delivery (Tesco) once a fortnight and you haven't been able to order most frozen veg (bar peas and the occasional green bean pack) for the past month. So I have to grab those when I can get them. The other supermarket in town is also bereft of frozen veg (probably because the main one is out).

Other than that everything seems to be OK.

I’m in Kent, I get Sainsbury’s delivery and had more subs the last couple of weeks than usual but always had a suitable replacement.

Mildy annoying in the South Coast - often can't find one or two things (snacking peppers and pancakes this week) but never essentials. Found both peppers and pancakes a few days later in different shops.

Near Norwich, basics like milk, bread, cheese and meat have been fine, freezer sections well stocked but teabags, coffee, fresh fruit and veg and bakery items have been missing. No crisps anywhere other than the odd shelf of pringles or kettle crisp types. Morrisons has been the best stocked so far around here.

A friend in the cotswolds has a similar situation but poor frozen food selection. Bottled water, lemonade etc have been out of stock too.

No problems where I live in Yorkshire. Had holiday in st Ives Cornwall first week in September. No problems in the Asda there that I could see.

South East London and the shelves are pathetic, but home delivery has been fine with no subs.
Weirdly we cannot get bin liners anywhere!

You know what causes empty supermarket shelves? Threads like this. I wish MN would ban them.

Sainsbury’s and Tesco, SW, last week. Lots of gaps and things at the front edge of shelves but hardly anything on the shelves.

Tesco Extra was really sparsely stocked in veg, fruit and frozen veg yesterday evening. Quite frustrating as it meant I needed to go to a few different shops to get what I needed

Just did my Ocado shop (SE) and there seemed to be far far more things out of stock compared to usual.

Mostly ok in Sourh Wales...some gaps but nothing like pictures in other parts of the uK.

Supplies have been patchy in local Co Op, Sainsbury's and Tesco's. Salads and some fruit almost always lacking for weeks now, chilled cabinets now half empty, bread and milk patchy. Somehow I don't think the sight of empty shelves is causing any panic buying it's been slowly happening for so long it's become normalised.

In Warwickshire. Aldi today there was very little bottled water and that has been the same in Morrison’s. Other than that the shelves were good.
Asda had a lot of own brand cereal missing the other week but plenty of Kellogg’s to buy.
Sainsbury's have also had quite a few gaps recently but I’ve always been able to get everything I want.

Lincolnshire - co op, spar everywhere fully stocked. Online shopping with Morrison’s and Asda no more missing items or subs than usual.

Someone I know that works for one of the big supermarkets said that with limited deliveries they were prioritising certain items and bottled water was not a priority. I did say that I hoped that wine was high on the priority list

All as per usual here 🤷 (Isle of Wight)

Everywhere is pretty normal here in the Midlands, but…

There is a shortage of lorry drivers all over the uk. Shops, restaurants, bars etc are experiencing shortages.

@YoComoManzanas

No shortages. Supermarket fully stocked here in sunny Sheffield. There were some gaps last week or so but back to normal again now.

Also in Sheffield (SW) and sainsburys seemed to have a few gaps in the cereal aisle but nothing serious. We are not the sort of family that buys the same thing every week though or has to have a particular brand etc so maybe I don’t notice if specific items are not in stock.

Very hard to buy long life juice where I am in london

NW here. Shopped in Aldi today, all quite normal except household cleaning stuff.

We live in South West my DP works in lidl. They have loads of gaps in ambient stuff. Fresh stuff still being delivered but l think the lack for drivers means that things they can store in warehouse is staying there. So randomly they have no washing up liquid or toilet roll depending on the day. More worryingly the wine ran out the other day🤣.

It just goes to show how accustomed we have become to packed shelves with more choice than people in many parts of the world could even dream of.

My local Co-op West Midlands is very empty and has been for a few months. It improves now and again when a big order comes in then reverts to rotating empty sections. At the moment the chillers are empty no meat or cheese or cut meats etc. They have said they are broken but this is not the case (staff say).
It’s not trying to promote panic buying to want some answers. If it’s all down to lorry drivers why is it so patchy on certain items?
I’m not panic buying and have resorted to driving half and hour to a big Sainsbury’s which has better stock I just want some honest clarity on the issues.