Forget the Christmas booze offers! Festive alcohol warning as industry chiefs say there will be smaller ranges of spirits and wine and fewer deals unless supply chain crisis is tackled
- Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) wrote to the transport secretary
- Told Grant Shapps they needed temporary visa scheme to be extended
- HGV driver shortage is having an impact on the supply chain of wine
Industry chiefs have warned there will be smaller ranges of spirits and wine as well as fewer offers unless the Government tackles the supply chain crisis.
The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) wrote to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps telling him companies are still struggling to get drinks to customers and urged ministers to 'ease the burden' caused by the HGV driver shortage.
Some 49 businesses including Moët Hennessy UK, Laurent-Perrier UK, Pernod Ricard UK, C&C Group and Matthew Clark, put their names to the letter.
'There is mounting concern amongst our membership that unless urgent action is taken, we will fall deeper into delivery chaos,' said WSTA CEO Miles Beale.
'We are already seeing major delays on wine and spirit delivery times which is pushing up costs and limiting the range of products available to UK consumers.'
The Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) wrote to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps telling him companies are still struggling to get drinks to customers and urged ministers to 'ease the burden' caused by the HGV driver shortage (file image)
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Mr Beale told BBC Radio 4 this morning: 'We’re not suggesting anything too dramatic. We don’t want to see panic buying of wines and spirits.
'What we’re saying is the sort of thing consumers will see is fewer offers. The sort of offers you expect to get in the run up to Christmas. Smaller ranges on supermarket and other shop shelves and probably some new brands.
'You might have trouble finding the brands you’re used to and have to find something else instead. A bit less choice, few new brands and frankly not the same level of offer you expect to see in the run up to Christmas.'
The WSTA said its members reported importing products was taking up to five times longer than it did a year ago, with businesses that had previously been able to fulfil orders in two to three days experiencing shipments taking 15 days to process.
It also noted that freight costs had increased by 7 percent, as delivery firms have had to increase HGV drivers' wages to retain them.
The WSTA wants Shapps to extend a temporary visa scheme for HGV drivers from February 28, 2022, to a minimum of one year, to ease the burden on industry and allow for a sufficient increase in domestic drivers.
Freight costs had increased by 7 percent, as delivery firms have had to increase HGV drivers' wages to retain them. Pictured, HGV driver in Berkshire in July
It also wants his department to facilitate better routing of freight from ports and smaller UK-based driver networks for short-haul journeys.
The UK government said it did not expect disruptions to the supply of alcohol this Christmas, however.
'The government acted quickly to tackle the challenges to our supply chains, which were brought on by global pressures including the pandemic and the international shortage of HGV drivers,' said a government spokesperson, noting 32 steps taken to tackle the shortage.
Britain's two biggest supermarket groups, Tesco and Sainsbury's, are currently running big wine promotions, indicating no immediate threat to wine supplies.
