Shoppers stockpiling pet food over fears of a ‘national shortage’
Shoppers are stockpiling pet food over fears of a “national shortage”.
Supermarket Sainsbury’s said it will battle to sort supply issues over dog and cat grub pouches.
Tesco has also been hit with a strong demand for packets of tasty treats for people’s precious pets.
But the chains insisted tinned and dry food was unaffected.
The blame is being put on a surge in pet owners during lockdown, and follows toilet rolls flying off the shelves last year.
Sainsbury’s said in an email to customers: “Due to a national shortage of dog and cat food pouches, we’re sorry if you’re not able to find your usual product at Sainsbury’s.
“We’re working hard to resolve this.”
One angry customer tweeted: “I just had an email from Sainsbury’s apologising for the shortage of cat and dog food pouches and they expect it to last all year!
“What has happened to all the pet food pouches?”
Another vented online: “Email from Sainsbury’s about national shortage of pet food pouches.
“Sorry cats, your world may change somewhat.”
Panic-buying Brits started stockpiling food and toilet rolls last March after the coronavirus pandemic first hit the country.
By September, they had even started to gobble up the nation’s turkey months for fear of shortages at Christmas.
And the craze returned at the start of the third national lockdown in January this year.
Shoppers frantically ran around supermarkets piling up their trolleys and stripping shelves bare as tough new restrictions were introduced.
But pest controllers have warned food stockpiling has helped to cause the number of rats in Britain to surge.
They claim the population of rats in the UK has grown to “biblical levels” from 120million in 2019 to a huge 150m last year.
Source: Read Full Article
