Online supermarket Ocado has warned customers that certain products may be in short supply over the coming weeks, as more and more of its workforce is forced to self-isolate.
Ocado, which recently launched a partnership with
“Staff absences across the supply chain may lead to an increase in product substitutions for a small number of customers, as some suppliers consolidate their offering to maintain output,” a spokesperson from Ocado told the
Ocado, like most other online food delivery services, often substitute an unavailable item with a similar product. Of course, you don’t have to accept the substitution, but Ocado makes it clear on its website that you cannot return any substitutions to your driver that you have touched due to the risk of infection.
Demand for food deliveries has massively increased since the
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we are working hard to mitigate any impact,” Ocado told its customers. It has, however, reaffirmed that there is plenty of food still available.
Some customers were not satisfied by the apology though, and took to Twitter to vent their frustrations.
Nope i'm a 'regular' Ocado user and I've had items missing and not replaced, and slots are hard to go by… it's tricky no matter who you use AND expensive.
—
Sabrina Leb (@Sabstar)January 11, 2021
hate the substitutions why not take the stuff that's not available off the website @Ocado !????? https://t.co/XxFHLCGTYE
— sèignèur (@taj_kang)
January 11, 2021
@Ocado According to your advice I keep checking for slots but nothing for January?! Please tell me what I am paying a delivery subscription for? You should not take more subscriptions than you can reasonably service. Awful customer service
— Christine (@cbrown1230)
January 11, 2021
The food industry, like so many others in the
Brexit price hikes
The COVID-19 pandemic might be a huge problem, but it isn’t the only one the food industry is facing right now. Coupled with the deteriorating health situation, retailers and suppliers are battling with new paperwork brought in now that the
Supermarkets are struggling to keep shelves stocked with certain foodstuffs, with fresh fruit and vegetables seeming to be a particular challenge for retailers. According to the Daily Mail, Road Haulage Association’s chairman
“The French have had a relatively light touch on enforcement so far, but they won't from Monday.”
"The issue of transport and hauliers not wanting to send their lorries here is because they are worried about their lorries being stuck and worried about lost profit, which means therefore the cost will be passed on to the consumer.”
He did, however, add that despite shortages of certain goods, “there is not going to be a famine. Food will continue to come in…”
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