Operation prawn cocktail: Supermarkets resort to FLYING IN fresh lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and citrus fruits as German airline Lufthansa transports 80 tonnes of goods to UK amid Kent border chaos
German airline Lufthansa today flew in 80 tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK for Tesco, Sainsbury's, the Co-op and Aldi as thousands of lorries remained stranded at the Kent border.
The airlift, which included lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, citrus fruits, and strawberries, came as Tesco began rationing several items and experts warned today's border reopening did not come soon enough to prevent shortages.
The Food and Drink Federation said there would be 'significant disruption' to supermarket supplies from next week, including shortages of fresh fruit and vegetables.
The requirement to test all drivers heading to Europe means that the backlog is taking time to clear, delaying the speed at which lorries can restock on the Continent before returning to Britain.
The Road Haulage Association said chaos at Dover will probably last until Boxing Day with between 100 and 300 tests being carried out per hour at Manston Airport amid estimates between 8,000 and 10,000 delayed lorries are now in Kent. This afternoon it emerged the first lorry drivers had been tested at Dover itself.
Shoppers were out in force this morning as they raced to stock up on the second last day before Christmas, with thousands of people thronging an Asda branch in London and dozens of customers queuing outside a butchers in Cambridgeshire.
Tesco told customers yesterday it was introducing the temporary limits on toilet roll, eggs, rice, soap and handwash 'to help all customers have access to these products'.
The Lufthansa airlift was commissioned by Venus, an Egyptian fruit supplier that is used by UK supermarkets. It landed at Doncaster Sheffield Airport just before 2pm, Lufthansa told MailOnline.
Today's Lufthansa airlift, which includes a large consignment of strawberries, comes as Tesco began rationing several items and experts warned today's border reopening did not come soon enough to prevent shortages
Today's airlift was commissioned by Venus, an Egyptian fruit supplier that is used by UK supermarkets. Pictured are some of the goods in the hold
The B777 Freighter (LH8352) landed into Doncaster Sheffield Airport at 1.50pm with lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli and citrus fruits on board for Tesco, Sainsbury's, Aldi and The Co-op
Additional special cargo flights currently under examination, a spokesman for the German airline told MailOnline today
A packed Asda on the Old Kent Road in central London this morning on the second to last shopping day before Christmas
Dozens of people were seen queuing outside Tesco Extra in Surrey Quays. The supermarket has limited purchases of several goods
Tesco is one of the supermarkets that will benefit from the Lufthansa airlift alongside Sainsbury's, Co-Op and Aldi
Last minute Christmas shoppers queue in the pouring rain today outside Waitrose in Chelsea, south-west London
MailOnline today contacted all the major supermarkets to ask if they had also put new restrictions in place. Empty shelves at Asda in Newhaven, Edinburgh
A sign by toilet paper in a Tesco Extra in south-east London saying purchases of the product are being limited after panic buying
Customers queuing to collect their Christmas turkey from the local butcher in the village of Haddenham in Cambridgeshire this morning
Tesco maintains in-store limits on flour, dried pasta, toilet roll, baby wipes and anti-bacterial wipes are due to coronavirus panic buying - not concerns about the impending Brexit deadline or problems at Dover
Sainsbury's, M&S, Morrisons and Aldi all said no, while Waitrose said had been restricting customers to two packs of toilet roll and three bags of flour for 'a substantial period of time'. Lidl is yet to reply. Pictured: Empty shelves at Asda in Newhaven, Edinburgh
Food and Drink Federation CEO Ian Wright told The Grocer: 'Last night's news of an agreement to allow hauliers with a negative Covid test to enter France is very welcome progress.'
But he added: 'Even working extremely quickly and with Calais possibly shut for Christmas Day, it is clear it could take until the new year to return to normal operations. Lorries will take time to return to their normal pattern of collection and delivery.
'That means we are likely to see, locally, reduced on-shelf availability of some fresh vegetables and fruits, beginning next week. We will also see potential significant disruption to the flow of ingredients into the UK.'
MailOnline today contacted all the major supermarkets to ask if they had also put new restrictions in place.
Sainsbury's, M&S, Morrisons and Aldi all said no, while Waitrose said had been restricting customers to two packs of toilet roll and three bags of flour for 'a substantial period of time'. Lidl is yet to reply.
All supermarkets said they had plenty of stock.
Tesco maintains in-store limits on flour, dried pasta, toilet roll, baby wipes and anti-bacterial wipes are due to coronavirus panic buying - not concerns about the impending Brexit deadline or problems at Dover.
There are concerns over shortages of fresh goods amid the backlog at Dover.
British Retail Consortium director of food Andrew Opie said: 'It is good news for consumers as the French borders have now reopened, however it is essential that lorries get moving across the border as quickly as possible.
'Until the backlog is cleared and supply chains return to normal, we anticipate issues with the availability of some fresh goods.'
All the ingredients and produce needed for a traditional Christmas dinner are already in the country and available to consumers, the BRC said.
But if empty lorries are not allowed into France to restock, there will be shortages of fresh produce, with supplies of salad, vegetables and fresh fruit such as strawberries and raspberries most at risk as they are typically imported from the continent at this time of year.
It came as dozens of truckers trying to reach their homes on the Continent tried to force their way past officers guarding the port of Dover.
Hundreds left their cabs and walked along the A20 to the port entrance in Kent at 8am today jeering and whistling, with some shouting in English: 'Open the border', 'We just want to go home' and 'F*** you, Boris!'
At one point several of them surged forwards towards a line of Kent Police officers who were forced to push them back as days of simmering anger at the chaotic situation amid the Covid-19 pandemic bubbled to the surface. Some drivers showed police apparently negative results, but an officer said a lot of them were 'fake test sheets'.
Tensions also boiled over 18 miles away at Manston Airport, where truckers whose lorries are being held staged a protest, broke down fences and blocked roads.
The Army and NHS staff are working together to administer Covid-19 tests at the airport, which are handed to drivers in their cabs to be self-administered under supervision.
CEO Jason Tarry added that it still had 'good availability' on fresh products imported from France, although panic buyers have emptied some of the shelves
Customers queuing to collect their Christmas turkey from the local butcher in the village of Haddenham in Cambridgeshire today
Fortunately France and Britain reached a deal on Tuesday night allowing lorries to cross The Channel, provided they have a negative Covid test to hand
Tesco says the limit is in place in light of Covid-19 restrictions, not due to concerns over Brexit, or major delays at the Port of Dover
Tesco has reminded shoppers about a three-item limit on products including flour, dried pasta, toilet roll, baby wipes and anti-bacterial wipes
Shoppers at a Tesco Extra in south-east London. Supermarkets previously rationed items in response to panic buying during the early months of the pandemic
The result will then be communicated to the driver via text or email, identifying them via their numberplate.
Two more test sites were today being set up at the Dreamland amusement park in Margate and at the entrance to the Port of Dover, but the junction was blocked by vans and cars with some even parked in the wrong direction.
Earlier this month it was revealed Tesco was stockpiling in the event of a No Deal Brexit.
John Allan, the chairman of Tesco, believes the average shopping bill could go up five per cent and also claimed French cheeses like brie could be 40 per cent more expensive if there is no EU trade deal.
But critics have said there is plenty of British brie to eat and the UK is already importing 20 per cent less cheese from abroad every year.
Mr Allan, who joined the supermarket last year, said: 'Tesco is getting ready for the worst case which is a No Deal, trying to ensure as much as we can that we stockpile long life products either in our warehouses or with our suppliers.
'We are trying to minimise the risk of food being caught in what is probably going to be the most difficult place, which is the port of Dover.
'We may have some shortages of fresh foods, particularly short life fresh foods. I think that will only be for a limited period, a month or two before we get back to normal.
'There might just be slightly restricted choice for a period of time'.
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Earlier this month it was revealed Tesco was stockpiling in the event of a No Deal Brexit, while Tier 4 Londoners were still able to visit their local shop on the Old Kent Road yesterday
Almost 3,000 lorries were stranded in Kent following France's travel ban, which was announced on Sunday. The news caused some people to stock up on supplies