Retailers warn over rising prices and empty shelves in event of no-deal Brexit

A no-deal Brexit could leave consumers facing empty shelves in supermarkets and higher food prices, retailers are set to warn politicians.
Customers could experience empty supermarket shelves in the wake of a no-deal Brexit, the BRC warned,Customers could experience empty supermarket shelves in the wake of a no-deal Brexit, the BRC warned,
Customers could experience empty supermarket shelves in the wake of a no-deal Brexit, the BRC warned,

In an open letter from the body representing Britain’s major food retailers, stores warn that fresh food cannot be stockpiled and said problems with importing food would leave it “difficult to restock stores”.

Signed by ten food retailers and restaurant groups including the chief executive of Sainsbury’s, Asda and the Co-op, as well as the British Retail Consortium (BRC), the letter said that the supply chain to get food into the country would be “significantly disrupted” in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

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It said: “While we have been working closely with our suppliers on contingency plans it is not possible to mitigate all the risks to our supply chains and we fear significant disruption in the short term as a result if there is no Brexit deal.”

It highlighted the fact that nearly one third of the food eaten in the UK comes from the EU.

“In March, the situation becomes more acute as UK produce is out of season,” the letter added. “90 per cent of our lettuces, 80 per cent of our tomatoes and 70 per cent of our soft fruit is sourced from the EU at that time of year. As this produce is fresh and perishable, it needs to be moved quickly from farms to our stores. This complex, ‘just in time’ supply chain will be significantly disrupted in the event of no deal. “

It added that it is difficult to stockpile any more produce as “all frozen and chilled storage is already been used”.

“While we have been working closely with our suppliers on contingency plans, it is not possible to mitigate all the risks to our supply chains and we fear significant disruption as a result if there is no Brexit deal,” it said.

The letter also raised concerns over the impact of tariffs, pointing out that only 10 per cent of the UK’s food imports are currently subject to World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

The retailers, which also included McDonalds, Lidl, Costcutter, Marks and Spencer and KFC, warned that if the UK were to revert to WTO rules, that would “greatly increase import costs that would in turn put upward pressure on food prices”.

Dr Kirsteen Shields, lecturer in international law and food security at the University of Edinburgh, said: "The letter highlights legitimate concerns over UK food supplies in light of a no deal Brexit. Industry is alerting government that it is not prepared to bear responsibility for the fallout from a no deal Brexit. This is about more than the logistics of warehouse and refrigeration space - the fragility of the food system, and the fact that many in the UK already experience food insecurity, reflects a wider neglect of public policy and democracy in food regulation."A recent report from MPs on the Exiting the EU Committee said the government must rule out a no-deal Brexit.