Haribo latest company to sound alarm on lorry driver shortages
Brits could soon find it difficult to get their hands on Haribo’s famous gummy sweets, as a shortage of lorry drivers has left the German confectionary giant struggling to get its products to UK shops.
Haribo told wholesale and retail customers it had a number of problems in the supply chain and was “working flat out to manage the situation”, trade paper the Grocer first reported.
“As is the case with many manufacturers and retailers throughout the country, we are experiencing challenges with regards to the nationwide driver shortage,” a Haribo spokesperson said.
“We are working with partners across the food and drink industry to address and respond to this problem.”
Logistics chiefs have warned Britain could be facing empty supermarket shelves this summer amid an “unimaginable” collapse of supply chains due to a shortage of more than 100,000 lorry drivers.
The Road Haulage Associated has called upon Boris Johnson to personally intervene to allow access to European labour by introducing temporary worker visas for HGB drivers and adding them to a “shortage occupation list”.
The haulage industry was one of the most vocal sectors in the run-up to Britain’s departure from the EU, warning that lorry drivers would not want to come to the UK if checks and friction increased at the border.
The problem has been compounded by the pandemic after many EU drivers returned to their home countries.
As well as haulage, staff shortages have been seen in hospitality, construction and in meat processing.