SWEET lovers could be left with a sour taste in their mouths as Haribo is struggling to get its popular products in our shops due to a shortage of lorry drivers.
The German confectionary giant has said it is “experiencing challenges” that were hitting supplies of all its creations including Tangfastics, Starmix, Goldbears and Happy Cola.
6
The haulage industry has blamed the pandemic for thousands of unfilled HGV driver jobs, saying there is a shortfall of around 60,000. And sweet treats are not the only item running low here and around the globe.
Sarah Arnold reveals the other shortages being suffered . . .
6
CEMENT: There’s no concrete news for builders on when the cement shortage will end. A building boom across Europe has led to record levels of demand, while the Suez Canal blockage in March — when one of the world’s largest container ships ran aground for six days — severely delayed deliveries.
6
TINNED TOMATOES: Spaghetti Bolognese could be harder to rustle up this summer. Stocks of tinned tomatoes have been running low after three years of poor harvests in Italy, which is responsible for three quarters of our supply. A global shortage of cans also means some of this year’s crop may be left to rot in fields.
CHOCOLATE FLAKES: A Cadbury’s Flake shortage caused 99 problems for Mr Whippy due to a surge in ice cream sales last month. Flakes are made in Cairo, Egypt, and Dublin, Ireland, but not enough were reaching the UK. Mondelez, which owns Cadbury, said: “We are seeing a recent increase in demand for our Cadbury 99 Flake in the UK and Ireland that we had not expected.”
CARS: Millions fewer cars and vans have been made due to a global shortage of semiconductors, a car computer chip. UK car production in May was down 50 per cent on pre-pandemic levels, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Some delivery times for cars have lengthened from three to six months.
6
SAND: A global shortage of one of the world’s most consumed materials may become a gritty issue for DIY’ers and tech types. Not only will it affect materials like sandpaper, it is also key to making windows, computer screens and smartphones. A shortage could mean there won’t be enough to make glass vials for Covid vaccines globally. Climate scientists say it is one of the greatest sustainability challenges of the 21st century.
LOO ROLL: It was stripped from supermarket shelves at the start of the pandemic due to panic buying. Now experts have warned that toilet paper could be the next victim of the global crunch in shipping containers. The biggest producer of wood pulp, Suzano — the raw material for loo roll — has said that demand for containers could disrupt international supply. Squeaky bum time.
6
CARDBOARD: Experts reckon there is a shortage because millions are hoarding it in their garages and not recycling. In addition, a surge in online deliveries during lockdown has altered the supply chain, so it is not getting recycled quickly enough.
McDONALD’S CHICKEN SELECTS: The food giant was last month hit by a nationwide shortage of Chicken Selects – strips of tender breast in a crispy coating. One hungry eater flapped on Twitter: “McDonald’s having no Chicken Selects is the only real national crisis going on currently.” The firm apologised for the “short-term inconvenience”.
TIMBER: Wood you believe it? A shortage of timber, including roof battens, is being driven by global supply issues and the house- building bonanza. The National Federation of Roofing Contractors has warned it puts the UK housebuilding industry under “enormous pressure”.
6
STEEL: An acute steel shortage has been blamed on China, which is said to have bought up global steel supplies as part of its economic recovery from the pandemic. It has even led Kodak to temporarily change the caps on its 135mm format photographic film canisters.
EGGS AND MILK: The escalating lorry crisis could lead to perishables including eggs, cheese and milk rotting before they hit supermarket shelves. Last month, a major milk supplier, which has not been identified, was unable to make around 100 deliveries — enough to serve 250,000 customers — to a supermarket chain. This was due to the lack of drivers.
PET FOOD POUCHES: Following an “unprecedented” rise in pet ownership during the pandemic, supermarkets warned of a shortage of cat and dog food pouches in March. Tinned and dry food were unaffected.
Chick-fil-A to limit sauces due to shortage
