‘Huge issue’ fuelling meat supply shortage at Australian supermarkets

COVID-fuelled workforce shortages are making it difficult to keep meat on supermarket shelves.

CEO of Richies IGA, Fred Harrison, says there are shortages across the supply chain.

“It’s the workers in the abattoirs, there’s just so may off at the moment isolating,” he told Emily Power and Jimmy Bartel, filling in for Ross and Russel.

“There’s also a huge issue with the truck drivers.

“We’re not just talking one or two people away, we’re talking anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent of workforces that are out of action at the moment, so it’s having a pretty devastating impact at the moment.”

Mr Harrison urged Australians to only buy meat as they need it.

“It’s when people panic buy and buy six or seven packs, and put four or five in the freezer, that it starts to create the strain and issues,” he said.

Richies IGA is today considering introducing purchase limits on meat products.

Press PLAY below to hear more about the supply chain problems