Labour shortages impacting shopper availability – shopper research 27-29 Augu...
31 August 2021Rising availability concerns
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Although absence rates relating to COVID-19 are thought to be falling, broader operational...
Rising availability concerns
Although absence rates relating to COVID-19 are thought to be falling, broader operational labour and HGV driver shortages are continuing to create challenges for supply chains.
This is resulting in lower order fulfilment levels than normal, meaning there is an impact on availability of some food and groceries.
In the latest shopper research conducted for IGD over this last weekend 27-29 August 2021, there has been a significant increase in the number of shoppers experiencing availability issues for some food and grocery categories.
62% of adults claim to have experienced shortages of some food and groceries in-store or online recently, up from 56% last weekend.
Concerns are highest in Scotland (72%) and London (67%).
Claimed shortages are again highest for fresh produce (21%), soft drinks (18%), bakery and dairy (16% each), fresh meat or fish (14%), household paper and chilled products (11% each).
Increased stockpiling
More adults (38%) have recently felt the need to stock up or purchase more than they normally do, up from 31% last weekend. This is still relatively low (50% in January’21 and a high of 64% in April’20).
There has also been an increase in the number who say they will or might stock up. This has increased to 45% compared to just under a third (31%) last weekend. This is now at the same level as in Jan’21 (45%) but still lower than the 60% recorded in March’20.
Stockpiling is highest among those aged 18-24 (62%), ABs (46%) and those living in London (51%).
Category differences
The table above shows that the top categories that are being stocked up. These include tins and packaged foods and household paper (13% each). These are followed by hand sanitiser (10%), cereals and alcohol (9% each), household products and medicines (8% each).
These are mainly different to the top categories that shoppers claim to be in short supply (fresh produce (21%) include soft drinks (18%), bakery and dairy (16% each).
Government action
All adults in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who have been fully vaccinated no longer have to self-isolate if they are identified as close contacts of someone with COVID-19.
The government has put in place daily contact testing in England at critical workplaces to help alleviate absence issues.
Businesses are encouraged to continue with daily contact testing for employees who have not been fully vaccinated.
DEFRA is keeping under review absence levels in all parts of the food supply chain and is requesting businesses complete this absence tracking survey as frequently as possible.
The Scottish government has announced asymptomatic workplace testing for organisations with ten or more employees.
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