Christmas shipping... at John Lewis

Store buys extra sea container space to keep festivities on track

FOR many, the John Lewis Christmas advert heralds the start of the festive season.

But yesterday the retail giant had some rather less cheerful Christmas news, warning that this year it could be blighted by shortages and price rises.

John Lewis says it has been forced to buy extra container ship space – costing ten to 15 times more than normal – to bring in festive merchandise and head off shortages.

The chain owns Waitrose, which confirmed ‘a considerable amount of strain on the food system’.

And the Co-op said yesterday that retailers are in the ‘middle of a storm’ caused by staff shortages, particularly for delivery drivers, and rising costs.

The problems are blamed on a combination of coronavirus and Brexit, which have cut the number of EU workers in the country, particularly HGV delivery drivers.

At the same time, tens of thousands of Britons were unable to take HGV driving lessons and tests during the lockdowns, which means the UK has missed out on skilled recruits.

The cost of bringing in container loads of supplies, including Christmas products, from China has soared this year. Pippa Wicks, executive director at John Lewis, said: ‘We along with a couple of other retailers have increased our boat capacity for containers ahead of where we would normally be. We felt it was right so customers can have a proper Christmas.’

Sharon White, John Lewis’s chairman, said: ‘We are facing the same issues as other retailers in terms of the supply chain, but we have acted fast to ensure whether you are shopping at Waitrose or John Lewis over the coming months you will find fantastic products in store.’ On prices, she said: ‘We are certainly seeing the risk that inflation may persist.’

Steve Murrells, Co-op’s group’s chief executive, said price rises are coming as retailers battle with the lorry driver shortage, increased shipping costs and global commodity price rises.