UK is 'very concerned' about food shortages as Covid disrupts workforce and supply chains
July 23, 2021, 5:12 am

UK is 'very concerned' about food shortages as Covid disrupts workforce and supply chains

Shelves with low stock at a Tesco store

According to the RT, Britain’s Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has warned that the government is “very concerned” about potential food shortages, as supermarkets and hauliers are impacted by record numbers forced to self-isolate as Covid cases rise.

The RT said reporting on the situation on Thursday, UK newspapers showed empty shelves in supermarkets throughout the country, as the number of individuals forced to self-isolate due to the spread of Covid begins to impact the supply chain and the ability of shops to operate.

While the business secretary urged people to avoid “panicking” about the prospect of empty shelves in shops, he admitted that the government is “very concerned about the situation” and is monitoring it closely.

England reopened on Monday, July 19, known as ‘Freedom Day,’ as Covid restrictions were lifted, with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson citing the successful vaccination programme as proof that the nation is ready to begin returning to normal.

However, despite 87% of UK adults having received one dose of a Covid jab and more than 68% having been fully vaccinated, the country is reporting record numbers of new daily infections, forcing an increasing number of people to self-isolate.

The concerns come after the British Meat Processors’ Association warned on Wednesday that the country’s food supply chains are “right on the edge of failing” due to a shortage of labor and a rising number of people in the workforce being 'pinged' (notified of a possible infection).

Separately, supermarket chain Iceland’s managing director, Richard Walker, declared that a number of stores will be closed due to a shortage of staff and HGV drivers.

The latest figures from the UK government show that a record 618,903 in England and Wales were ordered to self-isolate by the NHS Track and Trace app in the week to July 14, in what’s been called a ‘pingdemic’. The increase of 16.8% on the previous week came after 259,265 people had tested positive for the virus in the past week.

Source: RT
Image source: Getty-RT

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”