As COVID-19 wreaks havoc on Australia’s critical food supply chain, shoppers have been warned to expect shortages at supermarkets throughout January.
Stores on the east coast will be most heavily affected, Coles chief operations officer Matthew Swindells said, particularly New South Wales and Greater Sydney.
Mr Swindells expected current food shortages at Coles to last “another couple of difficult weeks”, as more and more workers catch coronavirus and are sidelined by the sharp rise in COVID-19 cases.
The rapidly escalating COVID crisis is having an impact on our supermarket shelves.
The rapidly escalating COVID crisis is having an impact on our supermarket shelves. (9News)
NSW hit a new pandemic high of 35,054 cases today, up almost 12,000 from yesterday.
9News understands the empty shelves which are now starting to greet shoppers are related to Delta and Omicron enforced absenteeism, not product shortages or panic buying.
Across the supply line, workers at supermarkets, distribution centres and truck drivers have been unable to shift product and stock shelves, because of sickness and mandated isolation.
“You might not find every product you’re used to,” Mr Swindells said of the new year shortages.
“You might have to change brand or buy a different pack size but you can certainly still get a good food shop so you won’t run out of food.”
Woolworths said it was facing a similar supply line crunch.
“We’re currently experiencing delays with some of our stock deliveries to stores due to COVID-related impacts on our supply chain operations,” a company spokesperson said.
“We have stock available within our network and our teams and suppliers are doing all they can to replenish stores as quickly as possible.”
Distribution centres are experiencing higher than usual absenteeism due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the Greater Sydney community.
Distribution centres are experiencing higher than usual absenteeism due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the Greater Sydney community. (9News)
A spokesperson from Aldi said that although the ongoing COVID-19 situation has meant “additional pressure to our operations”, the company was doing its best “to minimise any disruption to our customers”.
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) claimed up to 50 per cent of truck drivers were now off work sick because of COVID.
Michael Kaine, national secretary of the TWU, said Australia’s supply chain is under significant pressure.
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