NSW Covid: Supermarket shelves bare as Covid batters food supply chain

Shoppers are again being greeted by empty shelves at some Woolworths and Coles stores days after the holiday season rush as exploding Covid cases impact supermarket supply chains.

A shortage of fresh food and produce has hit some Woolworths and Coles stores as exploding Covid cases impact the supermarket supply chains.

Shoppers are still being greeted by empty shelves days after the holiday season rush, with reports of bare fresh produce sections emerging across Sydney and beyond.

One concerned customer took to Reddit with a photo of their local Sydney Woolworths with fresh vegetable shelves stripped bare.

Fruit and veg shelves have been stripped bare at a Sydney Woolworths amid supply chain issues. Picture: Supplied

“Anyone know what‘s going on?” They wrote online. ”Fresh fruit and vegetables in Woolworths.”

Another customer from the NSW South Coast took to Twitter about shortages near Merimbula.

“Woolworths any ideas on being able to get fresh fruit and veggies … no carrots, cucumbers or anything much,” she wrote.

The Daily Telegraph paid a visit to Woolworths in Gordon in Sydney’s northwest, and found the fresh produce section all but empty, with only handfuls of a few fruit and vegetable varieties remaining.

Empty fruit and veg shelves at Woolworths in Gordon.

Almost all stock was cleared out at Woolworths in Gordon.

The supermarket giant’s website also reveals meat shortages, with more than a dozen kebab, sausage and lamb products listed as “temporarily unavailable” or ”out of stock”.

Fruit and veggies including bananas, blueberries, leeks, pears, pumpkins, grapes and varieties of tomatoes were also listed as unavailable online.

Woolworths says the shortages are caused by supply chain issues.

A Woolworths spokesman said the supermarket was dealing with logistical “delays” caused by staff off sick or in isolation due to Covid.

The spokesman said while fresh food and produce was available, the challenge was actually getting the stock into stores.

Near empty fruit and veg shelves at Woolworths in Gordon.

“We’re currently experiencing delays with some of our stock deliveries to stores due to Covid-related impacts on our supply chain operations,” the spokesman said.

“We have stock available within our network and our teams and suppliers are doing all they can to replenish stores as quickly as possible … we thank our customers for their patience and apologise for the inconvenience.”

Shortages could also be found online at Coles, with packs of chicken, kebab sticks, some lamb products and half a dozen steaks among a list of unavailable fresh meat products.

Apricots, lemons, pumpkins and fresh peas were also out of stock.

Originally published as NSW Covid: Supermarket shelves bare as Covid batters food supply chain