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The British Retail Consortium has warned that there could be supply problems for some fresh produce until the backlog of trucks in Dover is eliminated.
Thousands of trucks have been stranded in Dover after France closed its borders earlier this week in reaction to a highly infectious new strain of coronavrius confirmed in the UK.
The closure has halted the movement of some goods, including fresh food, between Europe and the UK.
But the governments of the UK and France reached an agreement to reopen the border between the two countries to carriers and some passengers starting today, if they test negative for COVID, but the backlog of trucks waiting to cross could take days to clear.
Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said the agreement was “good news for consumers” but added that it was “essential that trucks cross the border as quickly as possible”.
“Until the delay is removed and supply chains are back to normal, we anticipate problems with the availability of some fresh produce,” he said.
Supermarkets have tried to reassure customers, advising them to shop normally, despite some earlier concerns about a shortage before Christmas.
Many supermarkets have put limits on some high-demand items, such as toilet paper rolls and hand washing, at various stages of the pandemic.
Tesco has had a three-item limit on some essentials for several months, but this week it resumed a one-item-per-customer limit for toilet tolls and up to three egg, rice, soap and handwash products.
Limits are understood to be preventive measures aimed at smoothing demand, rather than a reaction to change in purchasing behavior or product shortages.
Waitrose said its inventory levels “remain strong” and it continues to limit “a very small number of products online.”
Aldi also said its stores were “fully stocked” and the chain is understood to have no plans to introduce caps.
Sainsbury’s said it was not restricting products, adding: “We have good availability and encourage customers to buy normally.”
Work is underway to implement rapid response tests to release more than 2,800 trucks that have been trapped in KentBut the long lines around the highways could still take days to clear.
