Even with shortages of workers and supply concerns, turkey will still be available for Christmas dinner in Britain.
According to the British Poultry Council, they were able to get us through this but warn that consumers will have fewer options.
According to the report, there is a bird for everybody. However, they are mostly whole birds and not just crowns or roasts.
The industry group’s statements were repeated by supermarkets, who said that Christmas dinners would not be affected next month.
Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer reassured customers that their food and drink needs will be met to as panic buying threatened to result in shortages.
However, it happens as Britain’s top ports boss warns the supply chain crisis could continue into 2023.
The experts said that it would take “a very long time” to make it right due to the choice at ports and shipping companies around the globe.
British Poultry Council stated that enough European Union workers had been allowed to enter the UK, thereby reducing the risk of turkey shortages.
Although the British Poultry Council stated that they have enough money to “get us over our line”, it warned that shoppers will not be able to choose from as many options this year.
This comes just as Britain’s largest ports operator warns that the supply chain crisis could continue well into 2023. (pictured: Southampton port).
BPC chief Richard Griffiths told the BBC: ‘It’ll get us over the line. It has been possible to simplify products and decrease the number of them, which helps in increasing the overall volume.
Griffiths said that the focus will be on whole birds, as well as very simple crowns or roasts.
Around half the visas that were available for foreign workers in order to help fill in any gaps during Christmas are now taken up.
The hope was that many would rush to assist in packing the birds for holiday season.
Although the government allowed up to 5,500 individuals to fly into September, it was not enough to meet BPC’s requirements.
Griffiths claimed that because there are fewer birds to rear and more seasonal workers to be sourced by producers, Christmas will not suffer.
Shoppers spent £6million more on frozen turkeys last month than the same time a year earlier, Kantar data found.
BPC stated that there would be a bird to suit everyone’s needs, but it will mostly be whole birds and not just crowns or roasts.
Meanwhile supermarkets said Christmas dinners will not suffer from the supply chain crisis as some promised there will be plenty of festive stock.
Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer reassured customers their food and drink needs will be met to as panic buying threatened to result in shortages.
Simon Roberts is the Sainsbury’s CEO.
He stated that he was concerned about reports that popular products might not be available this Christmas. However, he added: “Following reports of some popular items being hard to locate this Christmas, we are working tirelessly to make Christmas memorable.”
“I would also like to assure you that food is plentiful and there will always be an alternative.
“Longer life products like Christmas cakes, puddings, mince pie, nuts, and cranberry syrup are available.”
Mr Roberts added Sainsbury’s stores will be getting regular deliveries right up until Christmas Eve and ‘expect expect to sell more fresh turkeys this year than ever before’.
Fresh turkeys will be arriving on December 19, but frozen turkeys can already be purchased in the stores.
According to supermarkets, Christmas dinners won’t be affected by the supply chain crisis. Some even promised that there would still be enough stock for everyone (file photo).
New party foods will start arriving in shops in the middle of the month. The letter promises that shelves in the post office will be filled with fresh festive items, such as pigs in blankets and other festive food products starting in December.
Also, he wrote that ‘We all know how much it was missing being able spend time last Christmas with our loved ones and families. We all want to make this Christmas more special.
Earlier this week Marks & Spencer’s CEO Steve Rowe also said the retailer is set to ‘deliver a great Christmas for our customers’, the Grocer reported.
He also reassured buyers that there won’t be ‘any shortages of pigs in blankets at Marks & Spencer at all’.
A spokesman for the John Lewis and Waitrose partnership also told the Express it is ‘confident’ about its ability to ‘provide our customers with everything they need’ for the festive period.
Simon Roberts is the Sainsbury CEO. A letter was posted on company’s website by customers, in which he stated that the supermarket would have “plenty” of food for all.
The John Lewis and Waitrose partnership is ‘confident’ it’ll be able to tend to all its customers’ festive needs
They said that they are in close contact with their suppliers, and were confident of a wide range of products.
The boss of Britain’s largest port operator, however, warned the crisis was not over and said that it would likely go on until 2023.
Henrik Pedersen was chief executive officer of Associated British Ports. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if it finished before then.
He told the Times: ‘When you have congested container ports around the world, it takes a very long time to turn it around.
“We are experiencing a shortage in truck drivers both in the UK and other countries so we have to be careful.” [the problem]Is in both the shipping and road legs.
He stated that ABP ports are still full of empty containers, as Asian ports won’t take the containers back due to their storage issues.
Primark stated it anticipates that disruption will continue well into 2023. This is in line with Ikea’s prediction of being affected for several months.