Ikea apologises for supply shortages blaming Covid and Brexit
Ikea has apologised to customers blaming Brexit and Covid for their failure to supply hundreds of items to their stores.
Shoppers have reported some of of the Swedish firm’s stores have completely running out of items, including mattresses.
A spokesman for the firm said: “Like many retailers, we are experiencing ongoing challenges with our supply chains due to COVID-19 and labour shortages, with transport, raw materials and sourcing all impacted. In addition, we are seeing higher customer demand as more people are spending more time at home.
“As a result, we are experiencing low availability in some of our ranges, including mattresses.
“We hope this will reduce as the situation improves in the coming weeks and months. Going forward, we’re constantly looking for more opportunities to secure product availability for our customers and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Ikea is just one of a string of companies being hit by the impact of the current supply chain crisis.
It comes after pub chain JD Wetherspoon apologised to customers after its beer supplies became the latest casualty of the UK’s supply chain crunch.
The hospitality giant confirmed it has seen supplies of Carling and Coors beer hit by the disruption which meant some pubs did not receive deliveries.
Molson Coors, the brewer for both brands, said it has been “hit by the HGV driver shortage” which had a knock on impact on its supply to some UK pubs.
Recently 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.
JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin, a vocal supporter of Brexit, played down its role in causing the shortages which he said were mainly driven by industrial action in recent weeks by drivers and warehouse staff acting on behalf of Heineken.
A spokesman for the firm said: “Like many retailers, we are experiencing ongoing challenges with our supply chains due to COVID-19 and labour shortages, with transport, raw materials and sourcing all impacted. In addition, we are seeing higher customer demand as more people are spending more time at home.
“As a result, we are experiencing low availability in some of our ranges, including mattresses.
“We hope this will reduce as the situation improves in the coming weeks and months. Going forward, we’re constantly looking for more opportunities to secure product availability for our customers and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Ikea is just one of a string of companies being hit by the impact of the current supply chain crisis.
It comes after pub chain JD Wetherspoon apologised to customers after its beer supplies became the latest casualty of the UK’s supply chain crunch.
The hospitality giant confirmed it has seen supplies of Carling and Coors beer hit by the disruption which meant some pubs did not receive deliveries.
Molson Coors, the brewer for both brands, said it has been “hit by the HGV driver shortage” which had a knock on impact on its supply to some UK pubs.
Recently 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.
JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin, a vocal supporter of Brexit, played down its role in causing the shortages which he said were mainly driven by industrial action in recent weeks by drivers and warehouse staff acting on behalf of Heineken.