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

[Finknottlesnewt]

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 ?

Cornwall here. Sainsbury’s seems fine, but Lidl has had massive gaps in the shelves for weeks. Maybe because a larger proportion of their stuff is imported from Germany? 🤔

Its fine here. All supermarkets very well stocked.

Nope, not seen anything really noticeable in central Scotland. I do look too, as I'm curious, but other than the odd thing I've not noticed shortages.

No issues where I live

The co-op has delivery issues but other supermarkets are fine

(Am in the South)

Fine in my bit of London. My veg box is a variety anyway but seems normal for the season.

Our coop has almost totally empty freezers and apology signs dotted around the shop. As well as noticeable sudden price increases

I work as online shopper and yes there are problems with everything generally but produce been the worst and we are substituting lots of items

I think co-op features because it's got a fairly rural network and has more fluctuating clientele because also often in popular tourist spots like west Wales and south west so more susceptible to delivery issues

So I am blissfully unaware - what is the reason for those shops who are short ? ( Naive me ? )

I agree about the frozen peas!

I think they're quite good at rearranging the shelves to hide the gaps so you wouln't notice unless you were looking for specific things.

I’ve noticed.

I haven’t really noticed it where we are but I have heard about it from friends who live in different parts of the country. There are big regional differences I think.

Accusing OP of ‘stirring up panic’ for just asking if anyone is experiencing the same reminds me of a time not so very long ago when anyone who raised the possibility of food and labour shortages was part of ‘Project Fear’.

@Helpppmeeee

No issues in Sussex

That's a mad generalisation!

I'm in Sussex. !!

Try Tesco Heathfield
Co Op Heathfield
Morrison's Crowborough
Tesco Crowborough.

All have a shocking lack of fresh vegetables. . Tesco frozen veg fridges empty as are Co Op.

No toilet roll the other week in our Tesco extra, very low on washing powder too.

No issues it seems North East... I've been in two Aldis, Tesco, Asda and Co op in past week and all seems fine luckily

My local shop has been really good with stocking organic food but yeah weird absences - regular things like bread, milk, broccoli just aren't there and things don't get restocked for days

Sainsburys driver commented they were struggling to recruit drivers
No subs in my shop tonight though

Fine where I am in South Wales.

I work on home shopping and it's been pretty bad for weeks. So many items we have to sub.
I have been quite lucky with my own shopping. Frozen vegetables and squash are the only two I struggle to get.
We're getting less online orders and I'm sure it's because we have to sub so much. Then again MIL shops at a different place to wear I work and she says it's hit and miss as to whether she can get the items she wants.

I am home now, in the north Cotswolds. Food galore everywhere.

So everyone is lying? No one is saying there is no food at all, just acknowledging there seems to be a shortage of certain things. We’ve not been able to get various frozen items, fruit, Diet Coke etc.

I've noticed it in my local shops but specific things. I'm in the south west. My local lidl rarely has many crisps and Sainsbury's a few feet away seems to struggle with bagged salad. Went earlier tho and both were fully stocked for those. Like pp said, there are things on the shelves just maybe not the variety there should be.

I've seen loads of gaps but different stuff each time. No bottled water when off on a long road journey at end of July, preferred coffee beans in Sainsbury's are hit and miss so but twice when I see them, the spices selection was bare last time, cat food is sporadic - so I notice it by what I want to buy. If nothing you're going in for isn't affected when you go on, it's probably easier to not see the gaps. I suspect there's some denial of the issue going on as well.

Southwest. Can't get chicken, sparkling water, fabric softener

I've noticed this quite badly where I am (midlands) but not seen anything about it. It is quite odd things - like the entire load of shelves of bottled drinks for example.

There's been some weird shortages where i am in the Midlands. Tesco is short frozen veg, chicken and beef. Morrisions is short of milk and there are a lot fewer fresh vegetables everywhere.