Are supermarket shelves half empty? We went to find out

Retailers have said there isn't a nationwide shortage, but low stock could be a result of rising energy prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East They're scenes rarely seen since the dark days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Supermarket shelves stripped of essentials and replaced by foreboding 'out of stock' signs. Over the past week, the reels of social media have been full of empty aisles. IF they are to be believed, food items we've come to expect as a basic requirement - things like eggs, bread and milk - have become increasingly hard to come by. Even in some of the biggest supermarket chains. To many commenting on the posts online, it has appeared reminiscent of lockdown, when panic-buyers and disrupted supply chains left some shelves temporarily bare. Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE - or get involved in our WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. And don't miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE. But this time, one thing is different. The supermarkets, or most of them, have suggested there's nothing wrong, and rumours of nationwide shortages are wide of the mark. In order to find out the truth, the Manchester Evening News went to see whether these shortages were really occurring. And visiting a range of major high street supermarkets, a consistent pattern appeared. Walking through these stores "out of stock" signs could be seen places in several aisles. In an Asda, Chadderton, the vegetable aisle was noticeably scarce, with fewer options available than expected. Empty crates stretched across sections where fresh produce would usually be stocked full. Shoppers were seen scanning shelves and looked unimpressed whilst picking through the remaining items. Meanwhile in Tesco, Salford, shelves weren't completely empty, mostly stocked but with a few gaps in key lines. Eggs, in particular, were hit and miss, leaving customers with fewer choices than they might usually expect. In one visit to Morrisons, Oldham, after seeing a social media post highlighting low stock, I attempted to document the shelves. However, we were told by staff that photography was not allowed and hinted to leave, with assurances that the store was not experiencing any issues. Despite this, gaps on the shelves and partially filled displays were visible in areas. While no single store appeared particularly short of stock, the same items were missing again and again. Retailers have said there is no evidence of a nationwide shortage and customers are advised to not panic-buy and stock up on items. And as for shoppers themselves, most seemed unfazed or had only minor gripes. One customer shrugged off the concerns, saying: "No I didn't really notice anything, I managed to get everything I need and I only come shopping once I week." Another echoes this same view: "Wasn't something I really noticed, they even had the good stuff." Others agreed there was a little sign of panic in the aisles. "We had no problem, I think its just people panic buying with everything going on, but we managed to get our things." Still, not everyone walked away satisfied. One shopper described having to compromise on certain items: "I went to the stores for 500g of chicken breast, they didn't have that, so I ended up with 400g of chicken breast fillets. I was annoyed." For others, the issue wasn't availability but affordability and choice. "There's no beans in the brand I usually get so I had to opt for the more expensive brand, and as a Uni student this is frustrating as I set my weekly budget," another said. Another shopper noted that while the situation wasn't sever, it was noticeable: "I haven't seen a huge change in products and stock but I don't think we need that many options." While some sections were sparse, others were bursting with colour and choice. The contrast was striking. In one aisle, shoppers passed half-empty shelves and 'out of stock' signs, in the next, they were met with fully stocked displays of sweets, crisps and treats, packed tightly and mostly overflowing. Bright packaging lined the shelves in neat rows, offering a sense of normality, just a few steps away from the gaps. The MEN understands that Tesco have strongly denied there are any wider shortages. The supermarket insists availability remains good with deliveries arriving regularly across the UK each day. The retailer believes it would be inaccurate to suggest otherwise, adding that isolated examples from individual stores do not reflect the national picture and continues to work closely with suppliers to ensure shelves remain well stocked. Industry experts point to a mix of short-term pressures that can cause the scarce availability in certain stores and regions. One key factor is disruption across supply chains. Delays in transport and distribution can slow the movement of goods from farms and factories to supermarket shelves. Rising costs are also playing a significant role. Food producers, manufacturers and retailers are all facing higher expenses, particularly due to rising energy prices. Gas and electricity costs affect everything from growing and processing food to refrigeration and delivery, putting a strain on the entire system. National Farmers' Union (NFU) Lancashire County Chair and Farmer Becki Fielding said: "There are financial pressures on everyone at the moment due to spiralling costs whether you are on farm, on the outskirts of Manchester or in the city. "There is huge volatility at the moment in global markets due to the conflict in Iran. "This is adding extra pressure on those businesses producing our food and other businesses in the sector, that includes additional costs for farms and food manufacturing businesses. "The strain caused by disruption to global oil and gas markets will only grow the longer it continues. If these cost pressures persist, which span the whole food supply chain, it could lead to further food price inflation, a situation we've already seen play out with the Russian invasion of Ukraine which drove an ongoing cost-of-living crisis here. This is something the government needs to take very seriously." Last week the NFU met with Defra Secretary of State Emma Reynolds and Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle, discussing the UK's food resilience and the impact on food and farming businesses. They are also closely monitoring commodity markets and working with the CBI and agricultural supply chains to establish impacts. While there is no evidence of a nationwide shortage, the empty patches seen suggests that same shoppers may struggle to find their everyday essentials.