Retailers face shortages of stock and staff as self-isolation soars

Deliveries have been badly affected in some areas, with retailers reporting both late and cancelled deliveries, partly down to the drivers having to self-isolate.

Other stores are managing with fewer staff because some have been pinged by the NHS app.

Onkar Sandhu, who runs Sandhu Stores in Tamworth, Staffordshire, said that Parfetts were on restricted delivery schedules, Nisa were not doing well and “everyone else is cancelling frozen orders all over the place”.

Sandhu also reported limited deliveries from Warburtons and “patchy” availability at the local Bookers.

He added: “If the driver shortage isn’t resolved Christmas will be just as bad if not worse with other illness to contend with.”

A spokesman for Warburtons said: “While the national driver shortage continues to place a strain on the Warburtons distribution network, we are managing to maintain a good level of service for our customers nationwide.

“However, at a local level things are more challenging and we, like many businesses, are experiencing higher levels of absence due to the rise in the community infection rates of COVID-19 and the knock on effect that has with more people having to self-isolate.”

Food industry executives warned that things could get worse if the requirement to self-isolate is not modified.

James Bielby, chief executive of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors, describes the situation as “chaos” and called for “a blanket exemption for food supply chain workers”.

In some areas, the supply chain appeared to be coping despite the strain. Amrit Singh, who runs Nisa Local High Heath in Walsall, said: “Blakemore have been excellent as a wholesale option, better than my symbol.

“Deliveries arrive at a set time, and their availability is much stronger. To handle the frozen load they’ve started sending out trucks just for frozen goods.”

Singh was not the only retailer praising his supplier.

Gordon Potts, owner of two Spar stores in Newscastle and Gateshead, said: “I have to say my service from my Spar wholesaler (James Hall) continues to be excellent with an odd driver delivery maybe an hour or two late. Availability is over 95% as per usual.”

For bigger stores, including Iceland and M&S, staff issues appear to be mounting.

Iceland, M&S and other businesses said growing numbers of staff have been “pinged” by the NHS Covid-19 app meaning they have to self-isolate for 10 days.

Businesses are keen that those who have been double vaccinated or have daily tests should be able to return to work.

The Co-op reported it was running low on some products and had been affected by “patchy disruption” to deliveries but added that it is working with suppliers to get re-stocked quickly.

Iceland reported that 1000 staff – around 4% of its workforce – are absent because of Covid, with the north of England worse affected than the south.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) agreed with the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) that the government should allow allow fully vaccinated retail workers or those who had tested negative for Covid to go to work.

The British Meat Processor’s Association said some members were seeing between 5% and 10% of their workforce “pinged” by the app.

Under current self-isolation rules in England, anyone who is traced as a close contact of a confirmed positive case must isolate for 10 days, whether or not they have received both doses of a vaccine.

If someone is told to isolate by NHS Test and Trace they are legally obliged to do so.

But if someone is “pinged” by the NHS Covid app the requirement to self-isolate is only advisory.