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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that people don't seem to have noticed that the shelves are empty. ?

568 replies

Finknottlesnewt · 17/09/2021 19:28

I have just popped into my local co-op (decent sized supermarket not a corner shop) . I wanted a chicken to roast, some Maris piper potatoes and some frozen peas... nothing. In fact no frozen veg. No pork as a chicken substitute. Salad potatoes but nothing I could roast.

I went to Tesco and got the last chicken. Also successful with Potatoes but no frozen peas.

I am not after unicorn tears. I mean it doesn't get much more normal than chicken spuds and peas. ! Tesco had NO fruit and (much to the consternation of many in the queue) only about 4 packets of cigarettes - none of which were the variety people were after.

Am I just living in a very badly affected area (rural southeast) .. or is anyone else starting to find this worrying ?

OP posts:
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Thighdentitycrisis · 17/09/2021 22:10

In London we have had shortages of mineral water for weeks

Lots of empty shelves and my localSainsbury has removed some shelves to avoid them being empty
I haven’t gone hungry though - it might not be a bad thing, we all buy too much and throw it away any how so I’m told.

TortolaParadise · 17/09/2021 22:10

Yes, I noted a lack of sparkling water and frozen veg in Tesco this week.

Lerram · 17/09/2021 22:11

Lots of half empty shelves here (north east Scotland) but almost everything is available. Had to buy a multi pack of toilet rolls because there were no 4 packs. Bought courgettes because there were no aubergines. Bought normal cat food because there was no senior cat food. Bought a jar of Kenco decaff because there were no refill bags.

All minor inconveniences, but it's very noticeable.

TooBigForMyBoots · 17/09/2021 22:11

Pure scaremongering.
Do you think posters are lying @Zeal?

SpiceRat · 17/09/2021 22:14

Bleach seems to be the only thing here I’ve been unable to get hold of. Managed to get a 2ltr bottle from Asda in the last shop rather than a 1ltr.

Aldi click and collected didn’t have any formula but dp went into the shop to get some batteries we had forgot to put on the shop but they had formula on the shelves… dunno what that’s about.

Gaaaahhhhhhhh · 17/09/2021 22:15

Random gaps in all supermarkets here (east mids). Nothing major but consistently missing things.
Love those saying that it’s not happening because they personally haven’t seen it. Yes we are all lying Hmm

DrFoxtrot · 17/09/2021 22:16

We've had issues for weeks in our two local Co-ops. There are bare patches on each aisle and last week no fridge or freezer food in either shop due to a problem at the distribution centre apparently. Nobody is panic buying here, we're used to it and making do. The nearest other supermarket is a Morrisons about 8 miles away and that seems ok.

DrFoxtrot · 17/09/2021 22:17

Should have said I'm in a small town in Lancashire.

Megan2018 · 17/09/2021 22:17

Not much issue here, sparkling water is in short supply but we don’t buy it.
There’s one day there were no cucumbers or croissants in Tesco and Sainsbury’s but that’s it. I had to buy a different brand of sugar the other day too. But no big gaps otherwise.
We’re rural East Mids.

KittyMcKitty · 17/09/2021 22:18

I was in a reasonably large Waitrose yesterday and there were no frozen vegetables at all apart from chopped onions! It was very strange - massive empty freezer (save for the chopped onions).

Tesco on the other side of town had frozen veg.

Spanglebangle · 17/09/2021 22:19

The guy behind the till in the entertainer today said there is not going to be enough toys in the country for Christmas so start shopping now.

He said the toys exist but there aren't enough drivers to get them into and across the country.

Obviously I have no idea how true this is.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 17/09/2021 22:20

Wales, limited mineral water, lots if courgettes.

Lupinhere37 · 17/09/2021 22:20

I’m South East Wales and squash, soft drinks and juice are low everywhere we go and have been for weeks.
Also noticing laundry detergent, chocolate and dog food has been poorly stocked.
No obvious problems with fruit and veg but I noticed Waitrose was low on chiller cabinet food.

twilightermummy · 17/09/2021 22:21

In Lincolnshire and I shop between Asda and Sainsbury’s. A few weeks ago there was a shortage of whole chickens, squash and bottled water. No problems now.
My main concern is the McDonald’s milkshake situ!

WoozySnoozy · 17/09/2021 22:21

@Spanglebangle

The guy behind the till in the entertainer today said there is not going to be enough toys in the country for Christmas so start shopping now.

He said the toys exist but there aren't enough drivers to get them into and across the country.

Obviously I have no idea how true this is.

I heard this too, also that there may be toys but you might not get the specific thing you want
MyPatronusIsACat · 17/09/2021 22:21

@Spanglebangle

The guy behind the till in the entertainer today said there is not going to be enough toys in the country for Christmas so start shopping now.

He said the toys exist but there aren't enough drivers to get them into and across the country.

Obviously I have no idea how true this is.

If these stores start paying the lorry drivers proper wages, they will get them to do the job!

Some of them are so obtuse that they can't see that the reason they have a lack of lorry drivers, is that they're not paying them what they deserve.

Pinkspecs · 17/09/2021 22:22

No issues where I am.

HalfBrick · 17/09/2021 22:22

Absolutely. Things I couldn't get recently:
No squash, tonic water or beans in my Lidl, finally restocked this week. Particular vitamins in Tesco. Asda own brand cat food. Lidl croissants. Also, the prices on everything have gone up, 20-50p per product. In South Wales.

Skyla2005 · 17/09/2021 22:26

I'm in south east and all is fine

DemBonesDemBones · 17/09/2021 22:26

Also rural southeast and haven't experienced anything like the scenario you've described.

Scottishskifun · 17/09/2021 22:30

Our co-op isn't great but no issues with our online shop. Not sure if it's because we get a early delivery slot or the things we usually get are alright supply wise.
We get a local veg box delivery for fresh stuff so no issues there, same for meat with a local butchers delivery which I freeze the majority of.
Try local farm shops, veg shops, market or butchers honestly in many cases its cheaper than the supermarkets anyway and better quality!

MrsCremuel · 17/09/2021 22:39

I had similar today and I’m in a south east town. Hardly any fruit and lots of soft drinks missing. Milk has also been patchy.

plus3 · 17/09/2021 22:41

In the south east & definitely seeing random empty shelves-but can go lateral on different products, so not affecting the weekly shop too badly at the moment.
Prices are also up.
Have noticed this for weeks now, but increasingly so.

earsup · 17/09/2021 22:41

Shortage of odd items....gorilla glue...blue rizla papers....water based crafting glue...am able to get food as normal but mostly vegeterian and always home cook so no difference there !

ursuslemonade · 17/09/2021 22:43

Dp went to 4 shops to buy gammon for tonight. I live in a highly populated area and it's getting worse.