Wetherspoons hit by driver shortage
PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has apologised to customers after its beer supplies became the latest casualty of the UK’s supply chain crunch.
The hospitality giant confirmed that it has seen supplies of Carling and Coors beer hit by the disruption, with some pubs not receiving deliveries.
Molson Coors, the brewer for both brands, said it has been “hit by the HGV driver shortage”.
Lorry driver and factory staff shortages attributed to Brexit employment rules and the pandemic have impacted supplies at rival firms including McDonald’s, Nando’s and KFC in recent weeks.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are experiencing some supply problems with both Carling and Coors, which means that some pubs do not have the products available.
“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused. We know that the brewers are trying to resolve the issue.”
In a later statement, Mr Gershon added that stocks of Carling and Coors had also been depleted when customers bought more after industrial action impacted deliveries from Heineken, which is the pub group’s biggest supplier.
“Heineken supply six of the 23 draught lines we normally offer,” he said.
“As a result of a shortage of deliveries of Heineken, some other products ran out in some locations – for example Carling and Coors lagers.
“We understand that the industrial action we refer to has now been called off which, we hope, means that the supply issues will be resolved in early course.
“As of today, the majority of pubs, we believe, are now fully stocked, but some pubs may be short of a few brands, pending deliveries in the next few days.”
A spokesman for Molson Coors Beverage Company said: “Like many in our great British brewing and pub sector we have been hit by the HGV driver shortage.
“We’re working around the clock with our customers and third-party logistics partners to ensure we minimise any impact to our customers.
“After such a difficult period for our industry, it’s heartbreaking to be letting any customer down and we will continue to do everything in our power to get our much-loved brands back on every Wetherspoons bar.”
It came as distribution firms sought to increase wages or offer incentives to new drivers amid a significant shortage across the food and drink supply chain.
Bosses at the Road Haulage Association warned last week that there is a shortfall of around 100,000 drivers.
It said this has been driven by thousands of European drivers leaving during the pandemic and not returning, and called on the Government to add drivers to the Shortage Occupation List to make it easier for overseas workers to address the shortfall.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin has been a passionate supporter of Brexit and earlier this year denied reports that his pubs were impacted by Brexit-related staff shortages.