London (AFP)

Sparse shelves in some shops, empty shelves in others: the shortages affecting UK businesses are also seen in supermarkets, consequences of the pandemic and Brexit.

"We had already decided to reduce our stock because of the Covid, but now we are having trouble supplying ourselves with certain products because they are simply not available", laments Satyan Patel, manager of a mini-market in the center of London.

Behind him, his little shop lines up half-empty shelves.

"Last week I ran out of Coca Cola. I haven't had large bottles of Evian for three weeks," he lists.

"Without goods, there is no trade. With empty shelves like these, no one is going to come into the store."

British companies have been plagued for several months by supply problems that could weigh on the economic recovery.

While they are not specific to the United Kingdom, while the pandemic has disrupted supply chains everywhere, they are exacerbated in the country by the effects of Brexit, which complicates the entry of European workers.

Many of them returned to their country of origin during the pandemic and some did not return.

For example, there would be a shortage of 100,000 truck drivers, who are sorely lacking to transport goods across the country.

Not far from Mr. Patel's convenience store, a supermarket seems better stocked.

Only the drinks section seems a little less full.

But appearances are deceptive, because all the stock is on the shelf, according to Toma, a 22-year-old saleswoman who prefers to give only her first name.

"Our apologies for the limited choice", indicates a label in the drinks section of a supermarket in London, September 7, 2021 JUSTIN TALLIS AFP

"We have nothing in our reserves," she describes.

"We have shortages" in all departments, "sometimes we only get limited quantities. We don't even have water!"

- Customer concerns -

If these shortages started with the pandemic, they have worsened since the entry into force of Brexit on January 1, she said.

And she notes a certain concern from customers who are starting to question salespeople, "and sometimes blame us" for the shortcomings on certain products.

A few kilometers away, in a hypermarket in south-east London, there is hardly any mineral water on the shelves and the bottles of milk seem to have been robbed.

An employee replenishes a balding fresh produce section in a London supermarket, September 7, 2021 JUSTIN TALLIS AFP

According to the main British employers' organization, the Confederation of British industry (CBI), "it would take at least 18 months to train enough truck drivers" to put an end to the supply problems.

The organization calls on the government, in the meantime, to be more flexible in its migration policy.

In the meantime, road transport companies are competing for bonuses or wage increases in an attempt to attract or retain truck drivers.

"We talk about it in the office and we tell ourselves that these bonuses for truck drivers will drive up prices," half-jokes Ryan Koningen, 49-year-old project manager in the City of London, who says he has also noticed shortages. in the shelves, especially "on everyday products".

Supply issues also led auto factories to pause production this summer due to lack of electronic components, and some construction companies ran out of materials.

And in recent weeks, the shortages have affected iconic companies: McDonalds, Wetherspoon pubs or very recently Coca Cola and Ikea.

So many examples that put the government under pressure to avoid ending up with empty shelves at the time of the end of the year holidays.

© 2021 AFP