Tesco grapples with Brexit-driven lorry driver shortage
Tesco is “working hard” to address a shortage of HGV drivers, the supermarket’s boss revealed in a call today following its quarterly results.
“In terms of labour availability, we’ve seen some shortage specifically in HGV drivers, but we’re working really hard to address that,” Ken Murphy said in the post-results phone call this morning.
“We’ve already got plans to address the shortfall and we’re working closely with the suppliers,” he added.
Murphy said product availability in stores remains “really strong”.
On Wednesday the UK’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) met government to highlight a “growing peril” to UK supply chains from a worsening HGV driver shortage.
Factors leading to the current shortage, which the RHA puts at 70,000, include reduced access to labour because of Brexit and Covid-19, and the loss of about a year of driver training and testing.
Hospitality and meat production sectors are experiencing similar problems, with some restaurants unable to open for full service due to staff shortages, and some meat producers warning that soon they will be unable to fulfil orders if the problem is not solved.
Tesco bagged more than £10bn in UK sales over its last quarter, with customers still in the habit of home cooking over restaurant dining as restrictions gradually lift.