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Original poster

Empty shelves - how bad is it around you?

167 replies

Orangejuicemarathoner · 15/09/2021 19:04

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

OP posts:
MattDamon · 16/09/2021 06:47

Big Tesco delivery this week, no subs, although I haven't been able to get my brand of bottled water for nearly a month.

frumpety · 16/09/2021 06:53

Haven't shipping cost's gone up massively over the last year as well ? Sure I heard someone say on the radio the cost had quadrupled over the year, that is surely going to have an impact on supply and price ?

mellongoose · 16/09/2021 07:28

I've commented on this subject before but I don't think missing items are an issue so long as we have enough to eat.

Consumption and excess is at an all time high and, although I don't want to be puritanical about it, the stuff that is missing is generally stuff to give us choice, rather than a necessity.

BatshitCrazyWoman · 16/09/2021 07:35

London. The only thing I've noticed missing in my local Tesco Extra is the Tesco own brand sparkling water. But I had a Tesco delivery in Monday and got some in that order, as well as chicken breasts.

Co op have had their sparkling water available though

SoloISland · 16/09/2021 08:00

@Warmduscher

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.
Indeed yes. Even many many kinds of salt.

So sorry for those who are having problems. even in NI .

Here in the Republic all is well.... There are local gaps when I order ...housebound - things that are on the website but that are not in the local shop and that the picker/packer has not heard of.. And I keep well stocked at all times

MissyB1 · 16/09/2021 08:00

@frumpety

Haven't shipping cost's gone up massively over the last year as well ? Sure I heard someone say on the radio the cost had quadrupled over the year, that is surely going to have an impact on supply and price ?
It is I was watching a news report on it last night.
longwayoff · 16/09/2021 08:08

Hampshire, my shopping delivered from Wiltshire. Most of my order complete every 2 weeks but water and a few other items difficult to get and the quality of meat available is awful. Won't be buying it again.

Bookaholic73 · 16/09/2021 08:09

@Zeal these are just a few examples from last week. Admittedly, this is an improvement on how it was for the rest of the summer.
Want to find something else to critique??

Empty shelves - how bad is it around you?
Empty shelves - how bad is it around you?
Empty shelves - how bad is it around you?
LadyofMisrule · 16/09/2021 08:56

I'm in the South West. 50% of my Sainsbury's delivery was missing yesterday. I went into the supermarket on Monday; many of the shelves were empty.

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/09/2021 10:46

mellongoose

I've commented on this subject before but I don't think missing items are an issue so long as we have enough to eat. “

Yes, you’re right.
Not exactly the sunny uplands we were promised, though.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 16/09/2021 10:50

Bournemouth. Its normal. I havent noticed a difference

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 16/09/2021 10:52

Oh apart from chicken! Can only get a limited range of products.

Mynameisthecatwhogotthecream · 16/09/2021 10:53

Apparently co-op has had problems in a warehouse with chilled food storage, a lot had to be destroyed/removed from shops as it had been stored at the wrong temperature, this may explain the empty fridges in some stores

1990s · 16/09/2021 11:13

Threads like these cause panic buying!

From London - haven’t seen any issues or had any problems with online shop.

Currently in Leeds, again have seen no problems.

MissDollyMix · 16/09/2021 11:20

Haven't noticed any issues in the supermarket whatsoever but went into our local pharmacy to stock up on medicine for the winter yesterday and they had completely bare shelves - behind the counter most of the medicines were out of stock. Basics like ibuprofen, benylin all out of stock. I asked if/when they'd been getting more in and the pharmacist said she had no idea as their wholesaler couldn't get them in. Worrying.

DesdamonasHandkerchief · 16/09/2021 11:23

@tiredanddangerous

You know what causes empty supermarket shelves? Threads like this. I wish MN would ban them.
Completely agree, this and the media screaming DON'T PANIC! If we can't get bottled water I'm sure we'll survive, if we can't get certain foods I'm sure we can get others. We're not going to starve. Food going unpicked in the fields and pigs being destroyed etc though needs to be addressed somehow.
Bookaholic73 · 16/09/2021 14:08

I really don’t understand how threads like these encourage panic buying or stock piling.

Hasn’t everyone learned from lockdown 1??

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 16/09/2021 14:45

@Bookaholic73

I really don’t understand how threads like these encourage panic buying or stock piling.

Hasn’t everyone learned from lockdown 1??

Nope. There was a thread the other week asking if anyone else was stockpiling because of brexit and covid shortages.
Wrongsideofhistorymyarse · 16/09/2021 15:10

Surrey. The ready meals aisle was very patchy so Sainsbury's plugged the gaps with beer...

I'm not panicking and neither am I stockpiling.

Pheebs2021 · 16/09/2021 15:16

London the items I assume are coming from China are short on the shelves but that's not a surprise two ports are closed and shipping is massively delayed. Not struggled to get majority of my list though I have noticed the costs are significantly higher.

fussychica · 16/09/2021 15:20

Odd gaps on the shelves and some freezers not in operation. Not sure if thats due to stock issues or freezer breakdown. Not had an issue getting most of what I need, so far anyway but expect it to get worse as everyone goes mental stockpiling for Xmas.
Frozen chips, low alcohol beer, teacakes have been a few of the things I've not been able to get recently.
South West.

BlackeyedSusan · 16/09/2021 16:38

@mellongoose

I've commented on this subject before but I don't think missing items are an issue so long as we have enough to eat.

Consumption and excess is at an all time high and, although I don't want to be puritanical about it, the stuff that is missing is generally stuff to give us choice, rather than a necessity.

Not if you have allergies or autistic children who will only eat one specific brand.
TheNatureOfTheCatastrophe · 16/09/2021 16:57

Just back from Lidl. The all new Lidl branded trainers were in stock, but there were gaping holes where the fizzy water, loo roll and kitchen towel should have been.

Autumngoldleaf · 16/09/2021 17:10

No issues at all.

Can get everything wherever we go, esp waitrose, Ms, sainsbury, and ocado

ChristmasCocktail · 16/09/2021 17:12

No problem where I live apart from I can't find certain chocolate biscuits for the DC but I'm sure we will survive. Hmm
Stop encouraging panic buying. We all know why the shelves have gaps now and then, unless you live under a rock.