P&O Ferries has let 800 British workers go in favor of cheaper foreign labor. Through its actions, the company has not only generated issues with British lawmakers, but they also caused delays at Dover after they ceased operations. The supply chain in the UK, already hit by Brexit and Covid, now faces more problems with claims that fresh food will not be arriving at shops due to cancelled ferries.
The fallout of this crisis at Dover is set to affect independent retailers with possible shortages of European fruit and vegetables. Richard Harrow, chief executive of the British Frozen Food Federation: “The movement of food and drink in and out of the UK is clearly being disrupted as the 20 miles of stationary lorries in Kent demonstrates. This is particularly problematic for fresh and short shelf-life products such as seafood and meat exports and fresh produce imports as delays mean the products deteriorate and their value declines. The frozen industry is more fortunate in that our products stay fresh even when delayed, but the additional costs associated with delays are still extremely problematic.”
Source: specialityfoodmagazine.com