Empty shelves & food prices to soar by 50%
Retail industry chiefs’ warning for hard Brexit
EMPTY supermarket shelves and grocery price hikes of almost 50% could hit consumers after Brexit.
The warning came in a joint study from retail industry lobbies representing businesses in Ireland and the UK.
They say the effects of the looming British withdrawal from the European Union could be “devastating”.
The worst-case scenarios may come about if there was a no-deal after the March 29 deadline.
This would mean the UK crashing out of the EU and being immediately hit with trade tariffs and trade barriers.
World Trade Organisation rules would kick in and prices would rise dramatically, with the knock-on effect that there could be massive food shortages too.
Retail Ireland’s Thomas Burke said: “A no-deal Brexit would have devastating economic consequences and must be avoided.
“However, regardless of the type of Brexit agreed over the coming weeks, retailers will see an increase in their operating costs arising from checks at ports and other supply chain disruption.
“In the current operating environment, these additional costs simply cannot be absorbed and will have to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.
“Our members continue to work hard to plan for all possible eventualities but the ongoing uncertainty is damaging our industry and impacting our customers.”
Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Aodhan Connolly added: “A no-deal Brexit brings tariffs, Food could be scarce customs processes, checks and costs that our industry, and Northern Ireland families in particular, cannot afford to absorb.
“Our households already have half of the discretionary income of British households and less than those in the Republic of Ireland.
“A no-deal Brexit will hit us first and hit us hardest. A hard Brexit means a hard border and Erika with female baby the disintegration of supply chains that have been built up over 40 years of EU membership.
“This is not a binary choice for Northern Ireland between trade with the UK and trade with the EU.
“Our economy is built on access to both markets and we need that to survive. No-deal makes Northern Ireland a less competitive place to do business and a more expensive place to live.”
The trade bodies have agreed they are united in their call for a solution, arguing the time for political games has long past.
They say a no-deal outcome would have devastating economic consequences, potentially jeopardising years of positive economic development and integration across the UK and Ireland.
Number of babies Erika has given birth to.. she also has 50 grandkids