Shortages had been ongoing since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic but had worsened since September. “It’s not just port congestion, it s also due to the curfew in France and storms in the Atlantic. It’s a whole combination. A shambles really. Stock had been delayed by weeks.”
Chris McKeen/Stuff Lumpy supply chain - Ports of Auckland faces troubling times Three French Vines had been flat out over the Christmas period, and sold everything it had. Deliveries due before Christmas did not come in on time leading to certain lines being unavailable for the time being. “To be honest it s really frustrating, but we can’t do anything about it. But if that’s the biggest thing we’re worried about, lack of Champagne, then it’s First World problems,” she said.
Ports congestion leads to nationwide champagne shortage
27 Jan, 2021 08:16 PM
4 minutes to read
Aimee Shaw is a business reporter focusing on retail, small businessaimee.shaw@nzherald.co.nz@AceeyShaw
Supermarkets and retailers are running short on stock of bubbly as congestion at the ports continues to wreak havoc. Global hold-ups of cargo ships at ports around the world and lengthy unloading delays at the country s major port have been ongoing since October last year.
Imports of almost all goods have been affected by the hold-up at Ports of Auckland, with champagne the latest item to be hit.
Signs at multiple New World supermarkets and other stores around the country are warning consumers of the Champagne shortage . One sign at New World Mount Albert in Auckland said congestion at the ports was the reason it was out of some lines of Champagne .