Across Britain, there is now a major shortage of lorry drivers caused by the coronavirus pandemic and post-Brexit immigration rules. Greggs confirmed to PoliticsHome that a “small number of products” have been affected by the disruption.

       Speaking to The Times, Steve Murrells, Co-operative Group chief executive, said current UK shortages are “at a worse level than at any time I have seen”.

       Greggs, which specialises in baked produce, has more than 2,000 stores across the UK.

       A combination of post-Brexit restrictions, and COVID-19 disruption, have caused shortages of workers in several industries.

       Speaking to the BBC Rod McKenzie, from the Road Haulage Association, said: “We’ve lost 20,000 European drivers then Covid meant that 40,000 driver tests haven’t happened.”

       He added the shortfall, combined with Brexit-related border disruption, represents a “real and present danger” to UK industry.

       On Tuesday McDonald’s announced it had run out of milkshakes across Great Britain due to supply chain issues.

       In a statement it said: “Like most retailers, we are currently experiencing some supply chain issues, impacting the availability of a small number of products.

       “Bottled drinks and milkshakes are temporarily unavailable in restaurants across England, Scotland and Wales.

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       “We apologise for any inconvenience, and thank our customers for their continued patience.”

       Last week, Nando’s announced 50 of its restaurants would temporarily close due to chicken supply issues.

       The company claimed “the UK supply chain is having a bit of a ‘mare right now”.

       KFC, a fast food outlet specialising in chicken, has also been affected.

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       Richard Griffiths, chief executive of the British Poultry Council, said the labour shortage caused a 5-10 percent cut in UK chicken production.

       He added: “They are currently producing a reduced range of products for UK customers, and are seriously concerned that the supply of staple chicken products will be impacted.

       “When you don’t have people, you have a problem – and this is something we are seeing across the whole supply chain.”

       The Government has been urged to grant 10,000 temporary visas to EU drivers, in a bid to make up the shortfall.

       However it is currently resisting, arguing companies should instead concentrate on training up British workers.

       A spokesperson for the Home Office said: “The British people repeatedly voted to end free movement and take back control of our immigration system and employers should invest in our domestic workforce instead of relying on labour from abroad.”

       Free movement of labour with the EU ended in December 2020, due to Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.

       Instead, the UK only accepts European migrants if they have certain desirable skills, family connections to Britain or are going into education.

       During the 2016 Brexit referendum leave campaigners argued cheap European labour had been pushing down wages in some UK industries.

       More than six million EU citizens applied to stay in Britain after the Brexit vote.