Brexit

Haribo confectionery hit by HGV driver shortage in UK

By Anthony Myers

- Last updated on GMT

Haribo said it is working on solutions to keep UK shelves stocked with its confectionery. Pic:  Haribo
Haribo said it is working on solutions to keep UK shelves stocked with its confectionery. Pic: Haribo

Related tags Brexit coronavirus

German firm said it was having trouble getting its products to customers in the UK, leading to a potential shortage on the shelves of Jelly babies, gummy bears and mini-fried eggs.

A shortage of lorry drivers in the UK caused by Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic is causing concern in the food and drink industry with firms struggling to get their products to retailers.

Haribo said that like many other manufacturers and retailers, it was "experiencing challenges​" that were hampering supplies to its confectionery because of the driver shortage in the UK.

The problems affect all Haribo sweets, including the popular Goldbears and Tangfastics.

Trade paper The Grocer reported​ Haribo has even pulled promotional activity in a bid to protect availability and many firms are altering delivery and ordering patterns or reducing the frequency of deliveries. 

Haribo said it was "working with partners across the food and drink industry​" to address the problem.

Kate Shoesmith, deputy chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, told the BBC that before the pandemic, many lorry drivers in the UK had been nationals of EU countries, particularly Romania and Bulgaria.

They stayed in the UK after the Brexit referendum, but started leaving when coronavirus struck, she said.

"They have either sourced work in their home countries or they feel it's not right to return to the UK, either because of Brexit or the pandemic​," she said.

The Department for Transport said it was aware of the shortage and progress was being made with regard to HGV driving tests and recruitment.

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