Food Stockpiling
Does anyone know what this actually means if the Brexit talks go awry. This is not a political post but I'm wondering what information is out there regarding our food supplies. It wasn't easy getting hold of certain foods during the first lockdown, are we in for more of the same? I can manage without tinned tomatoes, is there going to be an unexpected run on baked beans?!
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There seems to be two potential causes of threatened shortages. One a no deal Brexit and two, problems at ports caused by COVID. Tescos says thay have been stock piling to alleviate any short term shortages. Personally I couldn't care less and have no intention of panic buying, what there isn't available we will manage without.
peedee
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We hear the expression ‘perfect storm’ a lot these days. Huge backlog of supplies in UK ports due to fall-out from CV19 restrictions and seasonal demands, no berths available so ships in the wrong place making problem worse. Shortage of containers in Asia etc etc. Manufacturing stalled due to lack of supplies. Add to that forthcoming Brexit created chaos.....stockpiling (panic buying scale) is only a matter of time.
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We shop once a week and of course we have a small stock of non perishible goods for everyday use when needed but doubled up, no, and I see no need.
Reports in the press only trigger panic buying and make availablity worse. I bet there are still folk using toilet rolls bought last March.
peedee
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Just like my nanna and my mum before me, I always have a well stocked food cupboard which contains things like soups, beans, cooking sauces, teabags, coffee, flour, sugar, pasta, etc., as well as a full freezer. I also have a cupboard for cleaning products. I bake my own bread, cakes, pies, casseroles, but you can't 'hoard' things like fresh vegetables, fruit or milk, etc.
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Before the C19 pandemic this year, we were informed by our vet that they are struggling at times to get certain Meds. Garage couldn’t get a part in time for our Jeep service either, luckily it was just a routine filter change.
I think certain foods will be a problem, a lot of our Winter vegetables and salad foods come from Spain.
I don’t expect our lives in terms of imports, goods etc.... to be the same for years, if ever. Some things might be a little bit better, but I can only think of one thing at the moment, and it’s live exports.
No one will really know the true impact of Brexit. Most negative things will be blamed on pandemic now I suspect.
We aren’t stockpiling anything.
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We have the normal everyday goods in our cupboards and never got into hoarding anything, although I did get a few 'breakfasts in a tin' cans in when the local cafe closed.
Our chest freezer is 100% full as usual (not my doing), and the stuff at the bottom has not seen light of day since being put in, and who knows when that was
I sometimes wish for a shortage just to get down to the depths of the freezer 
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I think the major difference we will see in increased prices rather than long term shortages. The WTO tariff on food is quite high and even if other sources are used, e.g. Morocco, Kenya, Brazil etc. there will be increased transport costs.
peedee
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SB, yup it’s happening now. We are 12 miles from Hull Docks & already there are a lack of regular ships carrying some items & too many of other items that are being shipped by a lot of folk expecting scarcities & over ordering which is adding to the problems☹️. Yup it’s gonna be a rough ride. Brexit, Covid, Winter. . .There’s the beginnings of the ‘perfect storm’ right there.
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Yes, Brexiters are waiting for the great leap forward, but they should be warned that the third world is just around the corner. (sort of quote, Billy Bragg)
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There was an interview with an importer on tv yesterday and he said that because of stockpiling (but more this year than normal at this time)some docks are getting a log jam, and ships are being diverted or are leaving before being off loaded, to keep to their schedules as the "just in time" requirements at factories would mean they (like road deliveries)would be "fined?" if late in other ports
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I knew quite a few Brexiteers who proudly & regularly told me of their support for it. Recently. . .Not so much. For one of them-the joyous drive across Europe to southern Portugal to stay at their Villa for months on end now seems a distant memory & new concern.
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I doubt that very much JV. It’ll not stop me traveling. This Country is great during decent weather in Spring-Summer-early Autumn, if the weather here was guaranteed I’d still want to travel👍🏻
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Do you own ‘home made food trees’ ET😁(joke)👍🏻
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I've noticed that some of the super markets have some shortages and smaller amounts of stock than pre-CV19. Some of it may be down to them only stocking for the current reduced foot fall but some items such a particular tea we like, have just been unavailable for some weeks.
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The EU have just published their contigency plans for a no deal, one of them is:
"To ensure basic connectivity for road freight and passenger transport for six months, provided the UK does the same"
There possibly won't be as much disruption as the gloomiest forecasts.
peedee
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It's almost a perfect storm. We have worldwide shortages created by production lost to COVID. We have the potential for problems at ports because of both COVID and Brexit. Felixstowe is apparently 30% busier than normal. Whilst all this might not be about food it does have a knock on effect in that there is competition for space. As we have seen with Honda many operate of a just in time supply basis so even the slightest hiccup can start to cause problems which would be magnified if there was serious disruption. I suppose as consumers we don't always know what part of our food comes from where. Even something as quintessential English as Cheddar Cheese could come from Ireland!!!
David
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