Supermarket customers faced frustration on Wednesday due to the ‘severe’ heatwave gripping the UK causing disruption to refrigeration systems, resulting in empty shelves at major stores.
Printed warnings were seen on fridges and freezers in popular outlets like Tesco and M&S, with reports of empty shelves at Tesco branches in Haslingden, Crewe, and Altrincham. Videos and images revealed malfunctioning fridges at various stores, including Sainsbury’s locations.
The soaring temperatures in Britain led to problems with refrigeration systems across supermarkets, impacting the availability of essential items such as meat and milk nationwide.
Shoppers expressed their dismay on social media, with one individual warning others about the situation at a Tesco branch. Reports from different regions in the UK documented similar issues as the country experienced record-breaking high temperatures on Wednesday.
Various supermarkets faced refrigeration breakdowns, with Morrisons in Swindon issuing an apology for maintenance issues affecting their freezers. The extreme heatwave triggered warnings from the Met Office, expected to persist throughout the week.
Tesco, M&S, and Waitrose were contacted for comments regarding the situation in their stores.