Yesterday the UK government gave new advice to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, which included the suggestion that people work from home where possible and avoid pubs and restaurants which will have a big effect on where people are buying their fresh produce and the demand from food service companies.
In the run up to yesterday’s advice people have been flocking to the supermarkets to stock on everything from pasta to toilet roll, with meat, fruit and vegetables also in high demand.
Tim Chambers, a major producer of soft fruit in Kent, said he not seen any major change in demand yet, but it could potentially get worse. “The panic buyers react quickly, but this hopefully will stop soon. We supply mostly to the retailers and a little food service, the retail does have slight increased demand and food service will decline as people stop going out.”
As for labour there has not been much change there either yet for Chambers, “Restrictions on travel will limit our labour when it comes to the peak period from mid-May until October. People in the UK who would normally work in hotels, bars and restaurants may be available for work, but they might not be in the right mind set to start working in the fruit industry. There will be a shortage of workers which will most likely result in us harvesting less and not all business will make it through. Even with the government increasing the amount workers under the SAWS scheme it will still not be enough, labour will be displaced with the closing of European borders, the Ukrainians won’t get in and so the other Eastern Europeans will stay within Europe to work.”
Tim said at the end of all this normal will change and we will adjust to the new normal. Consumers may go back to shopping once a week or do more shopping online.
Fro more information
Tim Chambers
Chambers
Tel: +44(0) 1622 391640
https://www.wbchambers.co.uk