Rishi Sunak says he is ‘confident’ there will be gifts under the tree this Christmas

Sorry we’re out of salad. . . but here’s some chocolate! Supermarkets pack fresh food aisles with sweets and Lynx and fill chillers with HP Sauce and salad cream in bizarre bid to disguise empty shelves

Supermarkets in Britain have been caught piling salad cream, HP sauce and cooking oil into chillers Asda filled empty shelves with Lynx deodorant and Co-op put chocolate boxes in fruit and veg sectionOne in three retailers are expecting prices to increase over the next three months amid cost pressuresBritain’s supply chain crisis continues to escalate amid growing fears over a lack of goods coming in ** Have you seen products in strange places at your local supermarket? Please email: tips@dailymail.com **

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Supermarkets have been mocked for filling gaps on shelves with bizarre items to make stores look less bare, as Britain’s supply chain crisis continues to escalate amid growing fears over a lack of goods coming in.

Shops such as Tesco and Co-op have been caught piling salad cream, HP sauce and cooking oil into chillers in a desperate bid to take up space. Meanwhile chocolate boxes have been chucked into fruit and vegetable slots.

A Tesco Extra in Cardiff put a huge display of sunflower oil at the end of a frozen food aisle, while a Co-Op placed salad cream and HP Sauce in chillers  – and a Gloucester Asda filled empty shelves with Lynx Africa deodorant.

Meanwhile a Tesco in Pontypridd, South Wales, put a wall of tomatoes in place of the usual salad items. And a Co-op store in Hertfordshire filled fruit and vegetable sections with Quality Street, Celebrations and Dairy Milk. 

One in three retailers in Britain are expecting prices to increase over the next three months amid cost pressures from rising transport costs, higher energy prices and ongoing labour shortages.

The British Retail Consortium said there are ‘clear signs’ that the combination of issues are ‘starting to filter through to consumer prices’, and small retailers across the UK say they are expecting to have to charge more.

But others said they are ‘desperately holding off from being a Christmas grinch and keeping everything the same’ because they don’t want to give shoppers more reasons not to buy in what is already a tough market.

Today, Rishi Sunak could only offer limited reassurance there would be presents under the tree this Christmas amid fears the supply chain crisis will leave shelves bare, blaming global factors for the chaos.

The Chancellor admitted the government ‘can’t fix every single problem’, but said ministers were doing ‘absolutely everything we can’ to solve issues at British ports and in shops ahead of the festive period.

The crisis was sparked by a dearth of HGV drivers and a lack of C02 pumped into packaging to keep produce fresh or fizzy.

It led to mass stockpiling of food as desperate shoppers hoard non-perishable products they need to whip up Christmas dinner.

Elsewhere in the chaos today:

Supermarkets are putting on their Christmas sales early to avoid shelves being empty in December;It’s feared supplies of toys, electrical goods and other products will be disrupted by logjams at UK ports;Small businesses tell MailOnline they are being ‘forced’ to implement price rises for their customers;Hundreds of overseas butchers are set to be allowed into Britain ease the UK’s Christmas meat crisis;A threatened strike by workers at the DVLA will put Christmas at risk, the Road Haulage Association warned;Industrialist Sir Jim Ratcliffe warned high gas prices will continue throughout winter and industry could close.

Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, told MailOnline today: ‘There are clear signs that the cost pressures from rising transport costs, higher energy and commodity prices, and ongoing labour shortages, all of which are starting to filter through to consumer prices.  

Supermarkets have been mocked for filling gaps on shelves with bizarre items to make stores look less bare. Pictured: A Co-op store in Hertfordshire, where chocolate bags of Quality Street and Celebrations are replacing fruits and vegetables

A Gloucester Asda store which has filled empty shelves with Lynx Africa on the toiletries aisle is pictured this morning

Twitter user Stuart Turner posted this picture on September 17 of his local Co-Op having put salad cream in the fridges

Bottled drinks are used to fill a patisserie aisle at a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Bristol, pictured today

Empty shelves in Leeds are picture today as stocks run low at a Sainsbury’s supermarket due to supply issues

Meanwhile chocolate boxes such as Quality Street, Celebrations and Dairy Milk have been chucked into fruit and vegetable slots. Pictured: A Tesco in Heaton, Newcastle

Boris moves to save Christmas pigs-in-blankets

Hundreds of overseas butchers are set to be allowed into Britain ease the UK’s Christmas meat crisis.

Ministers are expected to U-turn and create visas for foreign slaughterers in the run-up to the festive season as a massive cull of pigs gets underway.

Boris Johnson’s government had attempted to play down the impact of the wasting of up to 100,000 pigs which face being thrown away because they cannot be professionally butchered for sale.

It had previously resisted calls for foreign workers to be allowed to make up for a shortfall in trained British staff.

But multiple Whitehall sources told the Daily Mail that ministers have bowed to increasing pressure from industry and are finalising plans to allow about 1,000 skilled workers to relieve UK abattoirs.

Farmers have been warning more than 100,000 pigs face destruction in the coming days because of a shortage of butchers to process their meat.

The gravity of the situation was underlined yesterday when a cull of about 4,500 pigs began.

Tory environment minister Lord Benyon told the House of Lords today that a decision was ‘imminent’ and the steps planned will reflect the action taken in the poultry sector to deal with labour gaps.

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‘A survey of retailers showed that three in five expected prices to go up over the next three months. Government can reduce some of these cost pressures in the near term is by expanding the size and scope of the new visa scheme, so that labour shortages throughout the supply chain can be filled while new British workers are trained.’

It comes as supermarkets and retailers bring forward huge Christmas sales by up to a month to prevent empty shelves in December, with promotions of up to 50 per cent off triggered early to avoid a last-minute rush.

Nathan Le-Moine, director of Telford-based educational toys firm Kiddie Kin, told MailOnline today: ‘Reluctantly, we have already been forced into implementing price increases for our customers. As with many online retailers, we have been hit with increases from every angle – from higher cost of goods, to additional delivery surcharges. The balance between protecting profits and remaining competitive is becoming a real concern.’ 

But Ruth Bradford, owner of the Little Black & White Book Project publishing firm in Bristol, told MailOnline: ‘I’m desperately holding off from being a Christmas grinch and keeping everything the same. 

‘But come the new year it’ll be less about resolutions and more about resignation as I’ll have no choice but to adjust prices to accommodate ever increasing material costs. For now, I don’t want to give shoppers even more reasons not to buy in an already tough market.’

And Keisha Shah, founder of learning products firm Teddo Play based in Milton Keynes, told MailOnline: ‘A classic example of ‘having all eggs in one basket’. Covid has uncovered many flaws in our economic system. 

‘With a majority of the countries outsourcing manufacturing activities to China, we are seeing a domino effect at the moment on an enormous scale. Rising manufacturing costs, supply chain issues, delays, not enough inventory to sell during the busiest time of the year, the list is pretty extensive. 

‘We have remained fully designed and manufactured in the UK so we’re not as badly affected but the rising cost of materials is inevitable. Being a small business, as much as we’d like to increase our product prices to cover these rising costs, it’s just way too much at stake, so the only option we have at the moment is to absorb the costs in the hope to retain our customer base.’

Meanwhile families were warned to start shopping now amid fears supplies of toys, electrical goods and other products will be disrupted by logjams at UK ports. 

People out stocking up ahead of Christmas at a Smyths toy shop in Slough, Berkshire, this morning

A woman pushes a trolley out of a Smyths toy shop in Slough, Berkshire, this morning

Shoppers look at products in a Smyths toy store in Slough, Berkshire, this morning

Elves and children pose for a photograph outside Hamleys toy store in London with Father Christmas this morning

A staff member prices jigsaws at Hamleys in London’s West End as the store prepares for the Christmas rush

A staff member stocks shelves in Hamleys toy store in London’s West End this morning

The Chancellor (pictured with his wife Akshata Murthy) blamed global factors for the chaos and admitted the government ‘can’t fix every single problem’

Retail leaders said the shortage of HGV drivers to carry loads from docks around the coast is threatening festivities and the wider economy.

But in a boost for shoppers, one of the biggest suppliers of turkeys in the country assured customers Christmas dinner was not off the table just yet.

Dunelm reports growth but warns of problems with supply chain issue

Homewares chain Dunelm has reported growth in first-quarter sales, although not as much as they enjoyed from last year’s post-lockdown boost, while the retailer also flagged ongoing challenges with supply chain issues. The group reported an 8.3 per cent increase in sales to £388.8 million in the 13 weeks to September 25 compared to the same period a year ago, when sales soared by 36.7 per cent thanks to pent-up demand following the initial Covid-19 lockdown.

It marks a sharp slowdown in sales growth, given the tough year-on-year comparison, but Dunelm said sales jumped 48 per cent on a two-year basis. Online sales lifted 20 per cent, making up a third of all sales, down from 46 per cent in the previous year when stores were impacted by closures.

Dunelm cautioned over an ‘uncertain’ outlook in the wider economy, clouded by the UK and global supply chain disruption and rising costs due to freight and driver shortages, but stuck to its recently upgraded profit guidance. It added it was weathering the storm thanks to good stock levels and with customers able to switch products if availability of certain lines are impacted. 

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Ronald Kers, Group CEO of 2 Sisters Food Group, which is associated with Bernard Matthews, said it was bringing in 700 more workers for the festive period.

Mr Sunak set out to reassure the country Christmas will not be cancelled this year amid the ongoing crisis.

He told the BBC: ‘I tell people they should be reassured we are doing absolutely everything we can to mitigate these challenges.

‘They are global in nature, so we can’t fix every single problem. But I feel confident there will be good provision of goods for everybody.

‘And we are working our way to remove blockages where we can as with HGV drivers for example where we’ve provided short term visas.’

Supermarkets are set to move early to prevent a sudden rush in December by bringing forward sales by up to a month.

Retail bosses said it was ‘prudent’ to extend discounts for shoppers to mitigate the HGV driver shortage and port chaos.

Newly-appointed supply chain tsar Sir Dave Lewis held a conference call with retails chiefs yesterday, the Telegraph reports.

One is believed to have claimed the officials asked companies to start festive deals early – but this was shot down by government insiders.

The source said: ‘We do understand that most of the retailers are doing that anyway. That’s a business decision they have taken.’

Morrisons announced yesterday it was launching a ‘mega sale’ as it slashed prices on brands such as Disney Princess, Lego and Peppa Pig by up to 50 per cent.

Shoppers will until November 2 be able to bag the hotly anticipated LOL Surprise Mega Remix Set for just £75, down from £150.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe warns very cold season would shut down industry

High gas prices will continue throughout winter in Britain and industry could be forced to close if supplies run out, industrialist Sir Jim Ratcliffe has warned. The founder of manufacturing giant Ineos said a lack of gas storage in the UK has led to a vulnerability – with the country having just ten days’ worth in the bank.

Billionaire Sir Jim, 68, added that a sharp winter could lead to a widespread shutdown as demand from business and consumers outweighs supply. It comes as two more energy firms collapsed yesterday amid soaring gas and electricity prices that threaten to add hundreds of pounds to annual bills.

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Peppa Pig Playhouse has also gone down from £110 to £55, while Lego sets will start at just £17.50.

One Disney Princess Styling Head of Beauty And The Beast’s Belle was cut from £25 down to £15.

A Glimma Girlz Styling Head was dropped from £11.50 to £8.05 on the food giant’s website.

A Mars Converters toy had its price slashed from £11.50 to £9.20 while a Playgo 2 In 1 Piano & Xylophone fell to £6.45 from £9.25.

A My Lil Wardrobe 12 inch toy doll with clothes that can be attached fell over £5 from £17.50 to £12.25.

A Morrisons own brand bubble machine lawn toy mower dropped in price by £2 from £10 to £8.

Toys Buyer at Morrisons David Catton said: ‘At Morrisons, our shelves are fully stocked with Christmas gifts.

‘We want to help customers bag a bargain and get the Christmas shopping sorted early so they can focus on spending quality time with friends and family during the festive season.’

Chief Executive of Iceland Richard Walker said it was also one of those starting sales early, adding: ‘It’s prudent to get ahead of the game.’

The frozen food giant showed discounts on a range of festive favourites on Thursday morning. 

A Glimma Girlz Styling Head was dropped from £11.50 to £8.05 on Morrisons’ website

A My Lil Wardrobe 12 inch toy doll with clothes that can be attached fell over £5 from £17.50 to £12.25 at Morrisons

A Mars Converters toy had its price slashed from £11.50 to £9.20 on the Morrisons website 

A Playgo 2 In 1 Piano & Xylophone fell to £6.45 from £9.25 online at Morrisons on Thursday morning

A Morrisons own brand bubble machine lawn toy mower dropped in price by £2 from £10 to £8

Chief Executive of Iceland Richard Walker said it was also one of those starting sales early, adding: ‘It’s prudent to get ahead of the game’

Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pepperoni-Salame Pizza was down to just £1.25 from £1.50 and Birds Eye 22 Chicken Dippers are £1.50 from £3

An array of Pringles flavours were slashed by half price from £3 to £1.50 while Birds Eye 4 Chicken Quarter Pounders were cut by the same amount

Domino’s plans to hire 8,000 drivers for Xmas

Pizza giant Domino’s has said it plans to hire more than 8,000 drivers across the UK and Ireland as part of preparations for the busy Christmas period. It comes as the takeaway firm updates shareholders on its trading over the past three months.

The company said it sold seven pizzas each minute over the period, with online orders peaking to 13 per second on July 3 as England took on Ukraine in football’s European Championship. The company said sales in the 13 weeks to September 26 were up 8.8 per cent on a like-for-like basis to £375.8 million. Orders collected from stores – a key area of growth for the business – were up 40.3 per cent and stand at 82 per cent of pre-pandemic levels. Bosses said they remain on target to open 30 new stores this year, having opened five in the three months to September 26.

However, they also warned that supply chain issues and rising staff wages are starting to impact the business. The company said: ‘We have seen some impact from the well-publicised pressures on labour availability and food cost inflation, which we expect to extend into next year, but continue to take proactive, preventative measures to ensure our world-class supply chain service levels are maintained and that cost increases are constrained.’

Domino’s said it is launching the recruitment drive as it expects demand to continue to strengthen over the rest of the year.

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An array of Pringles flavours were slashed by half price from £3 to £1.50 while Birds Eye 4 Chicken Quarter Pounders were cut by the same amount.

Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pepperoni-Salame Pizza was down to just £1.25 from £1.50 and Birds Eye 22 Chicken Dippers are £1.50 from £3.

Families were warned last night to start shopping for Christmas now amid fears toys, electrical goods and other products will be disrupted by logjams at UK ports.

Retail leaders said the shortage of HGV drivers to carry loads from docks around the coast is threatening festivities and the wider economy.

Shipping giant Maersk diverted some supersize vessels away from Felixstowe – the UK’s largest container port – to alternatives on the Continent such as Rotterdam.

It is hoped containers will then be transferred to smaller ships that should find it easier to get a berth at smaller UK docks.

Meanwhile, supermarkets have been trying to fill up empty shelves with products they do have in stock, with a Tesco Extra in Cardiff placing dozens of sunflower oil bottles near a frozen food section.

David Jinks, of the parcel delivery firm ParcelHero, said: ‘Britain’s Christmas is relying on a Dunkirk-style removal of goods from Europe on to smaller ships bound for ports across the UK. That looks to be the only way to bring many Christmas gifts home.’

Some businesses are wary of leaving shelves stripped bare, filling fruit and vegetable aisles with festive items such as Quality Street and Celebrations.

One industry source told the Sun: ‘Retailers know there is some tension in the air and don’t want to see panic buying.’

Peter Wilson, of shipping agency Cory Brothers, said the UK has a ‘significant pinch point around HGV drivers and the demand on them to move goods from the ports’.

DVLA strike ‘will put Christmas at risk’

A threatened strike by workers at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will put Christmas at risk the Road Haulage Association warned today – as it emerged only 20 foreign drivers had currently been given visas.

Industrial action floated by members of the Public and Commercial Services union at the DVLA offices in Swansea, south Wales, come amid a backlog of 56,000 HGV licence applications.

And it looms against a so far unsuccessful government plan to tempt foreign drivers back to the country, only recruiting 20 so far.

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The problems are hitting deliveries of kitchen white goods, electrical appliances, toys, clothing and Christmas products, he added.

He insisted the supply chain will not fail but told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme consumers should ‘be sensible, think ahead, plan appropriately and order your Christmas goods and the items that you need in a timely fashion to ensure you have them’.

The British Retail Consortium’s Andrew Opie said: ‘Congestion at Felixstowe is yet another unwanted side-effect of the HGV driver shortage.

‘As cargo cannot be removed fast enough, there is a backlog of containers at the ports preventing new ships from docking and unloading.

‘Retailers are working with suppliers to mitigate issues, including finding alternative routes to bring goods into the country, but further disruption may be unavoidable.’

The British Toy and Hobby Association said: ‘We expect continued disruption to delivery schedules… over the coming months.

‘There are plenty of toys to choose from presently but, in common with other sectors’ advice, buying early – especially if buying for a Christmas or a birthday present – is prudent.’

Gary Grant, of the toy giant The Entertainer, said yesterday Barbie dolls and Paw Patrol toys are ‘prime candidates for being short in the Christmas season’.

It comes as supermarkets and retailers are believed to be planning to bring forward Christmas sales by up to a month to prevent empty shelves in December (file photo)

It is reported that shoppers in Britain are already struggling to get their hands on presents

PlayStation 5’s that were on display but out of stock in Kingston, West London, on Wednesday

Elf on the Shelf supplies may also be affected, with one million of the toys being held in China ahead of shipping (file photo)

People shop for Toys in Kingston, London. Gary Grant, of the toy giant The Entertainer, said Barbie dolls and Paw Patrol toys are ‘prime candidates for being short in the Christmas season’

Shoppers could suffer ‘disruption’, empty shelves and rising prices 

Shoppers face ‘disruption and frustration’ this Christmas amid gaps on shelves and rising prices, retail industry experts warned yesterday. At the same time, concerns triggered by the recent petrol crisis, soaring energy bills and the rising cost of living are sapping consumer confidence, they said.

It came as figures showed retail sales growth in September of only 0.6 per cent, disappointing for a month that normally does well because of back to school purchases.

Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said swift action by the Government to deal with the HGV driver shortage was needed to prepare for Christmas. ‘Retailers, farmers and manufacturers are making preparations to ensure enough food and festive gifts move through the supply chain in time,’ she added. ‘Unfortunately, the lack of drivers is hindering these preparations and increasing costs, which will eventually be reflected in higher prices.

‘Retailers are working hard to recruit and train thousands of new British drivers, but in the interim Government needs to urgently extend its visa scheme to address the shortfall of 90,000 drivers.’ 

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Elf on the Shelf supplies may also be affected, with one million of the toys being held in China ahead of shipping.

One of this year’s biggest toys, the Cocomelon Bedtime JJ Doll, is also almost nowhere to be found in the UK amid the crisis.

Sellers on eBay are making the most of the low stock levels, with PS5 consoles going for up to £3,000, nearly seven times their RRP of £450; and the Xbox Series X for up to £2,000, more than four times above the same RRP.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max, which costs between £1,049 and £1,549 via Apple depending on the model, is going for up to £3,000 on eBay as retailers such as Ebuyer take pre-orders on their next delivery due in three weeks’ time.

And the Cocomelon Musical Bedtime JJ, which has an RRP of £28, is going for up to £109 on eBay.

The doll, based on the children’s TV series featuring nursery rhymes, is one of this year’s most hoped-for toys under the tree.

The London-based website Stock Informer, which tracks which retailers have popular products available, states that there is no stock for any of these four products anywhere other than eBay or online marketplace StockX. 

The company, which earns money from qualifying purchases, checks retailers including Amazon, Very, Currys, John Lewis, Argos, AO, Asda, Smyths, Game and Ebuyer and sends email alerts when rare items come into stock.

The PS5 stock issues have been hitting Sony since it launched the console in November last year, with the firm saying one of the main reasons was huge demand amid a shortage of semi-conductors and other components. 

The London-based website Stock Informer, which tracks which retailers have popular products available, states that there is no stock for any of these four products anywhere other than eBay or online marketplace StockX

Sellers on eBay are trying to sell a PlayStation 5 for up to £3,000, nearly seven times their RRP, because they are out of stock

The Xbox Series X console is being offered on eBay for up to £2,000, more than four times above the RRP of £450

The iPhone 13 Pro Max, which costs between £1,049 and £1,549 via Apple based on the model, is going for £3,000 on eBay

Microsoft has also faced stock issues since launching Xbox X last November and said a fortnight ago that these are set to continue into 2022 amid the ongoing global chip shortages that are also impacting phone production. 

Desperate steel, chemicals and glass factories plead for tax breaks on soaring energy bills as Boris prepares to sign off hundreds of millions of pounds in LOANS 

Desperate steel, chemicals and glass factories today pleaded for tax breaks to help them cope with soaring energy bills – as Boris Johnson prepares to sign off hundreds of millions of pounds in loans to keep them afloat. 

Energy-intensive businesses insisted cutting taxes and levies was more important than a bailout, after an extraordinary bout of wrangling in Whitehall.

Mr Johnson appears to have sided with Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng following his spat with Chancellor Rishi Sunak over the need for government support. 

A package is now due within days, but rather than handouts or a price cap on industrial energy costs, it is expected to come in the form of loans.

It is understood the support will also come with ‘strings attached’, ensuring companies cannot pay out big bonuses while they are benefiting. 

The move could raise concerns that the government is merely kicking the can down the road, as firms will have to repay the costs later when energy prices have settled down. 

The Treasury is said to have been alarmed at the prospect of doling out more cash, warning that ‘demands simply increase’ when sectors know the Chancellor is involved in the process.

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As for Apple, its shares fell on Tuesday after claims that it could cut its iPhone 13 production targets by up to 10million units because of the chip shortage. The tech firm only launched the new model last month.

Mr Grant told BBC News: ‘There’ll never be toy shops with no toys. There will be toy shops without all the toys that they would normally expect to have.

‘That is largely down to transportation and warehouse issues, rather than there being a shortage of toys.’

Mike Green, found of Stock Informer, told MailOnline yesterday: ‘We basically track online retailers for stock of certain high demand and low supply products, and notify our users once stock is located.

‘Since Covid lockdowns started March 2020 we have seen very large spike in demand across many products but especially video game consoles.

‘Late March 2020 to July 2020 saw a large spike and supply issues with the Nintendo Switch console. Inflatable hot tubs also proved very popular during the summer lockdown.

‘New Playstation and Xbox console launches are always accompanied with high demand and stock shortages, however during the launches in November 2020, I have never seen such high demand like it. I have been in this business over 14 years.

‘To date, Stock Informer has helped tens of thousands obtain their consoles since launch.

‘With Christmas 2021 approaching, the PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles will continue to prove very difficult for people to get their hands on and we expect this to continue well into 2022.

‘With the current chip shortages and supply chain issues, we are also expecting many supply issues with many electronic toys and associated products.’

Alex Hersham, of the freight forwarding company Zencargo, used by brands including Vivienne Westwood, Swoon Furniture and Soho Home, said: ‘Some containers have been sitting at Felixstowe for double the usual length of time – between ten and 20 days – pushing the port towards capacity. 

‘With Felixstowe handling almost 40 per cent of all the containers coming to and from the UK, this adds yet more imbalance to Britain’s supply chain.’ 

But Tim Morris, of the UK Major Ports Group, said: ‘There’s no need to panic. The global supply chains are very busy but they’re robust. 

‘There’ll be some short-term fluctuations but retailers, their suppliers, all the logistics companies that work in between the manufacturing and the sales side will be working hard to keep supplies moving.’ 

Tory party co-chairman Oliver Dowden insisted the Government is ‘working through these challenges’, for example by boosting training places for HGV drivers. 

But he said ministers are doing ‘absolutely everything we can’ to solve issues at British ports (pictured, Felixstowe this week) and in shops ahead of the festive period

Thousands of shipping containers at Felixstowe in Suffolk, as shipping giant Maersk is diverting vessels away to unload elsewhere in Europe

Asked about Christmas, he said: ‘I’m confident people will be able to get their toys for Christmas. Some people buy very early for Christmas… others buy later. I would say just buy as you do normally.’

Elsewhere turkey industry bosses assured customers there would not be a shortage of birds over Christmas.

Mr Kers, Group CEO of 2 Sisters Food Group told the Today programme: ‘Thankfully the government and in particular Defra have stepped in.

‘They have opened up the seasonal work scheme, also for poultry. It came a little bit later, a little bit to short, but still we are able to bring in an additional 700 people.

‘It will help us to secure the volume we think we need for Christmas.’

He added: ‘The overall supply chain in very fragile as it is… it’s fragile but we’re working very hard to make sure our turkeys are in stores.’

** Have you seen products in strange places at your local supermarket? Please email: tips@dailymail.com ** 

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