Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Over half of Brits anxious about Christmas food shortages

Food shortage this Christmas
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Getty Images

More than half of Britons are anxious over the much-anticipated food shortage this Christmas, says a new research claiming that most Britons have come across food shortage in the form of sparser store shelves in recent months.

According to a research by services provider Ensono, based on the responses of 2,000 respondents, 71 per cent have noticed stock shortages in recent months.


The research also found that online shopping has become much more firmly established, with only 57 per cent planning to buy in-store in future, down from 78 per cent before the pandemic.

Despite this, 84 per cent said that retailers had done well to maintain stock levels through the pandemic.

Simon Ratcliffe, principal consultant at Ensono, said: “Over the last 18 months, retailers have faced a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges, including lockdowns, unprecedented consumer demand, and a complex web of global supply chain disruption.

“In many ways they have risen to the challenge, keeping inventories stocked and becoming an invaluable source of stability for consumers.

“With customers fearful of shortages this Christmas, retailers need to deliver a consistent and reliable customer experience for shoppers – both online and in-store.

Customer loyalty is currently very fluid, so grocers who can navigate this period successfully have a great chance to build a loyal cohort of customers into the new year, he said.

Ratcliffe added that technology was likely to be crucial for managing the “new era of retail”.

“The pandemic has pushed more customers than ever before to shop online, making investment in a strong digital offering essential for grocers,” he said.

“This begins with customer-facing services, building applications suited to customers hungry for engaging and convenient multi-device access to retailers’ service.

“It then extends into a company’s back-end technology, tapping into the flexibility and scalability offered by public cloud.

“Indeed, in a world of supply chain disruption, the high-capacity and reliable mainframe systems continue to serve grocers well in key areas like inventory management.”

More for you

A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale

A woman walks past a window display promoting an ongoing sale, on December 13, 2024 in London, England.

Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

Retail sales disappoint before Christmas

UK retail sales rose less than expected in the runup to Christmas, according to official data Friday that deals a fresh blow to government hopes of growing the economy.

Separate figures revealed a temporary reprieve for prime minister Keir Starmer, however, as public borrowing fell sharply in November.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sybren Attema, and Betty Eekchaut

Presidents Sybren Attema, FrieslandCampina, and Betty Eekchaut, Milcobel

Yazoo parent FrieslandCampina announces merger with Belgian rival Milcobel

Dutch dairy collective FrieslandCampina has agreed to merge with smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, creating a leading dairy cooperative.

FrieslandCampina, whose brands include Yazoo and Chocomel, said the merger will provide the foundation for a future-oriented organisation that has dairy front and centre for member dairy farmers, employees, consumers, and customers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Retail Shoplifting. Man Stealing In Supermarket
Photo: iStock

Home Office reaffirms commitment to abolish £200 shoplifting threshold

The UK government has pledged stronger measures to combat anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which it acknowledges as serious crimes that disrupt communities and harm businesses.

Addressing a House of Lords debate on Monday, Home Office minister Lord Hanson detailed plans to abolish the controversial £200 shoplifting threshold and to introduce a new offence for assaults on retail workers.

Keep ReadingShow less
post office store
Photo: Post Office Ltd

Post Office launches wellbeing hub to support postmasters amid rising retail crime

In response to the mounting pressures faced by postmasters across the UK, the Post Office has unveiled a centralised wellbeing platform aimed at simplifying access to support resources.

Post Office said the surge in shoplifting and violent incidents, documented in the 2024 ACS Crime Report, has only intensified the demand for comprehensive support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira
iStock

Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira

Independent retailers have weathered one of their most challenging years in 2024, with multiple headwinds affecting the sector, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).

With pressures mounting throughout the year, independent retailers have faced an increasingly difficult trading environment marked by changing consumer behaviour and economic uncertainties.

Keep ReadingShow less