MILAN – UK’s biggest coffee shop chain Costa Coffee, as well as bakery chain Greggs and fast food chain Subway, have have confirmed branches in the UK are facing shortages due to supply issues. The announcement came just days after McDonald’s, KFC and Nando’s confirmed they were struggling with supply.
In reply to a customers Tweet querying the lack of decaffeinated coffee beans in various stores, Costa Coffee replied: “We are facing some supply chain issues just now. We’re working hard to resolve this ASAP.”
The company is offering a reduced menu due to supplier issues. Customers report certain shops had even run out of coffee.
High street giants across a raft of sectors in the UK have been battling with a supply chain crisis due to a shortage of lorry drivers following post-Brexit EU immigration rules, Covid-19 lockdown measures and also self-isolation rules.
Logistics UK, which represents freight firms, and the British Retail Consortium, said a shortfall of some 90,000 HGV drivers was the root of the problem as there is simply not enough staff to deliver goods.
“The pandemic halted driving training and testing for over 12 months, while an estimated 25,000 EU drivers returned home during the pandemic and following the end of the transition period.”
Business groups representing the retail and transport sectors have been calling for the Government to review plans not to grant temporary work visas to drivers from the EU.
The supply pressures have also been affecting supermarkets in recent weeks, while manufacturers have reported sharp increases in the prices of raw materials.
09:07 27/08/2021
