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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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6
PattyPan · 20/09/2021 07:52

Only one sub in my online order this morning, one type of soup for another similar one. No issues getting broccoli, salad, soft drinks, milk etc which other posters have mentioned.

SusannaM · 20/09/2021 08:03

@MrsDThomas

There was a problem with temperature in the depot, all the refrigerated stuff from goodness knows how many stores had to be binned. Haven't seen what ours is like first thing since then, it's a busy store and always a bit gappy when I go in late evening.

UnsolicitedDickPic · 20/09/2021 08:07

@bringonyourwreckingball

We have empty shelves, loads of subs in my online order and a lot of stuff has just disappeared off the website so you can’t even order it, even if they might sometimes actually have it in store.
I've found this recently - they're saying it's unavailable online but if I pop into the store, it's on the shelf. Is that so they can protect the shop stock, I wonder?
CigarsofthePharoahs · 20/09/2021 08:09

No issues for my deliveries except for cat food. Must be those pesky aliens in District 9.

Haudyourwheesht · 20/09/2021 16:47

A lot of people have been posting about single rows of various items, but surely as long as there are a couple left there are enough? How many surplus roll on deodorants do we need?

Maybe a shift in our shopping mentality is that we need in this country. As a society we throw away tons of food. Maybe that'll be less likely to happen now.

CeeJay81 · 20/09/2021 16:56

I work for coop and our store was back to normal today, taken a week for the meat and ready meals to have good stock levels after the fridge issue at the depot. Good availability in the rest of the store too.

justasking111 · 20/09/2021 18:09

Our garage is completely out of fuel for the second time this month. That's a delivery problem

mydogisthebest · 20/09/2021 18:40

@Haudyourwheesht

A lot of people have been posting about single rows of various items, but surely as long as there are a couple left there are enough? How many surplus roll on deodorants do we need?

Maybe a shift in our shopping mentality is that we need in this country. As a society we throw away tons of food. Maybe that'll be less likely to happen now.

The items that I have mainly noticed only single rows of are things like shower gel, hand wash, washing liquid. Food items have been things like peanut butter, soup, baked beans, tinned tomatoes.

There may well be enough but we are used to see items like that going to the back of the shelves so it is worrying that there are so few of some items.

Also I have seen where there would have been maybe 4, 5, 6 rows of an item with however many behind each item to the back of the shelf now only having maybe 3 or 4 of the item spaced out

deleteasappropriate · 20/09/2021 19:07

No shortages in my local big Tesco (north east coast). I've just been and didn't see gaps on meat or produce, or any other sections.

WorriedMumofTeen16 · 20/09/2021 19:09

Cat food has been an issue in my local Tesco for a few weeks now, only really the pouches available rather than tins. Frozen veg aisle has been half empty for a while, along with soft drinks, lager and cider, fresh veg and some tinned food and pasta along with, weirdly, frozen Yorkshire puds.

Went today and still no tinned cat food (4 cats so pouches work out v v expensive for me), fresh veg was low and they didn't have my usual Tesco butter type spread, and the medicine and first aid shelves were almost empty

Original poster
Finknottlesnewt · 20/09/2021 21:46

This food shortage issue in some areas /shops is the tip of the iceberg.

The C02 issue is going to make these food shortages look like a walk in the park.

OP posts:
Orangejuicemarathoner · 20/09/2021 21:54

@justasking111

Our garage is completely out of fuel for the second time this month. That's a delivery problem
where are you?
Porridgealert · 21/09/2021 00:03

@Finknottlesnewt

This food shortage issue in some areas /shops is the tip of the iceberg.

The C02 issue is going to make these food shortages look like a walk in the park.

Aren't they saying that the govt is going to step in to those companies that are stopping producing co2 to give them financial support to get them through the gas crisis?
BlackCountryWench2 · 21/09/2021 08:06

I have noticed our local large Sainsbury’s has whole empty shelves with cardboard boxes printed saying Sorry, out of stock. Strangely, our local independent greengrocer and butcher never seem short of anything, plenty of choice. I know that you pay a bit extra but it’s worth avoiding the supermarkets as much as you can to get the choice and quality (as well as supporting small businesses and cutting down on the food miles).

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 21/09/2021 08:16

Fairly empty shelves in Somerset but you can still get everything you want.

NewlyGranny · 21/09/2021 11:58

Bought dried beans this morning so we can concoct bean burgers if the beef mince disappears. One generous neighbour has a productive allotment and another has a small poultry enterprise within walking distance, so we should be alright. There's 3kg of free damsons in the freezer ready for jamming - I asked permission when I saw they were dropping from the tree. If lockdown is anything to go by, it will be a flour shortage that hits us hardest as we make bread about 5 times a week. Imagine having damson jam and no toast to spread it on. Christmas is covered with 2 tubs of Q St stowed away and a litre of sloe gin that's been maturing a year already.

Seriously, for people in towns and cities on hand-to-mouth incomes, things are looking a bit bleak.

QuestionEverythingBaby · 21/09/2021 17:15

Went to Aldi this morning, totally full shelves everywhere. In fact full to bursting, a couple of pallets waiting to be unloaded too.

Haudyourwheesht · 21/09/2021 20:48

Loads in our local Morrison's today too. Lots of reduced to clear chicken, which suggests no real shortages or panic buying.

No fruit pouches tho, in a couple of places, which is no bad thing to my mind but is killing the DDs.

hibbledibble · 21/09/2021 20:49

No issues here in London with online shopping, except the odd unavailable item

wewereliars · 21/09/2021 20:52

Skynews reporting that EVCL, chilled food supplier to Asda and Sainsburys, is on the point of being put into administration.

mustlovegin · 21/09/2021 20:55

The C02 issue is going to make these food shortages look like a walk in the park

This is being dealt with by the government as we speak

NigellaSeed · 21/09/2021 20:57

Co-op are actually apologizing for empty shelves on their co-op radio now

WoozySnoozy · 21/09/2021 20:58

@wewereliars

Skynews reporting that EVCL, chilled food supplier to Asda and Sainsburys, is on the point of being put into administration.
Why? Because of CO2? This is not good.
wewereliars · 21/09/2021 20:59

A number of causes, shortage of drivers a major one.

wewereliars · 21/09/2021 21:01

1000 employees, so it's pretty big