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Long Road to Recovery Availability issues continue to hit retailers and consumers
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as the HGV shortage and other issues hit wholesalers.
hoppers are increasingly reporting availability issues as the sector battles the effect of the driver shortage, the ‘Pingdemic’ and Brexit, new research reveals. Latest consumer research conducted for IGD over the past weekend, 6 to 8 August 2021, finds that 56% of adults claim to have experienced shortages of some food and groceries in-store or online recently, up from 48% a week earlier. There have been changes in claimed shortages by region, the research shows, with concern now highest in Northern Ireland (74%), London (63%), and the North East (61%). Claimed shortages remain highest for fresh produce (27% compared to 17% last week). Other high-ranking categories include fresh meat or fish (16%), dairy (13%), tins & packaged foods and soft drinks (both 11% each), bakery and household paper (both 10% each). The research shows that more adults (32%) have recently felt the need to stock up or purchase more than they normally, up from 27% last weekend. This is still relatively low (50% in January 2021 and a high of 64% in April 2020). A third (34%) say they will or might stock up. This has remained stable compared to last weekend (33%). However, this is still lower than in January 2021 (45%) and March 2020 (60%). Stockpiling is highest among 18-24s (45%), those with children at home (38%), and those living in London (48%).
RETAILERS ACT In recent weeks independent retailers have been taking matters into their own hands by collecting their supplies from smaller wholesalers. Walsall retailer Amrit Singh has bought a forklift to help. He tweeted: “I’m buying so much out of symbol so con-
10 I SLRMAG.CO.UK / ISSUE 68 / WEDNESDAY 11TH AUGUST 2021
