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Staff of Reuters 3 Minutes to Read (Reuters) – LONDON (Reuters) – As England fans prepare for Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, demand for beer, soft drinks, salads, and barbeque food is surging, putting additional strain on retail supply systems already strained by a driver shortage. Showcase ( 3 images ) Despite the loosening of COVID-19 rules on hospitality operations, British grocery chains have warned of stock shortages as demand for food and drink exceeds forecasts during the month-long soccer tournament, while families continue to dine more at home. With England playing Italy in its first international soccer tournament final since 1966 on Sunday evening, retailers are bracing for a surge in demand as millions of people around the country plan weekend parties, picnics, and get-togethers. This weekend, Asda, the UK’s third largest supermarket chain, expects to sell over 45 million beer cans and over 1 million pizzas. It expects to sell 200,000 individual burgers on Sunday alone, or to 19 tonnes. Last Saturday (July 3), when England faced Ukraine in their Euro 2020 quarter final, Sainsbury’s, Britain’s second largest retailer, sold roughly 17 packs of beer every second, which was 60 percent higher than an usual Saturday, according to Simon Roberts, the company’s CEO. “We’re trying hard to ensure availability, but there are certainly obstacles in the upper supply chain,” he said, citing issues in high-demand product categories like beer, soft beverages, and salad packs as examples. “You’ll find items you want, but you may not find every brand you desire,” his finance head Kevin O’Byrne added. As a temporary fix for a serious lack of licensed heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators, the British government said on Wednesday that it will loosen limits on how long truck drivers can work this month. The epidemic, which forced many foreign drivers to return home during lockdowns, and new immigration limits following Brexit have contributed to the shortage, which the Road Haulage Association estimates to be above 100,000. Premier Foods, one of the largest food firms in the United Kingdom, suggested this week that the government consider employing the army to distribute supplies. James Davey contributed reporting, and Kirsten Donovan edited the piece./nRead More

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