Supermarket shelves could stay bare for weeks as the latest Covid crisis wreaks havoc with Australia's supply chain, a top Coles executive has warned.
Hundreds of meat workers have been sent into isolation in recent days as the Omicron strain sweeps across Australia.
Startling images have shown Coles and Woolworths shelves stripped of their produce as supermarkets struggle to refill their stores after the Christmas and New Year shopping rush.
Coles Chief Operating Officer Matthew Swindells said shoppers were in for a 'couple of difficult weeks' in the run-up to Australia Day.
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Shoppers are in for a 'couple of difficult weeks' as supermarkets struggle to fill shelves in the run-up to Australia Day, a top Coles executive has warned (image of January 26 revellers)
'We were facing a number of supply chain challenges already - a shortage of pallets and a shortage of truck drivers,' he told the Today show.
'(After Christmas) we're somewhat on the back foot trying to make sure that we can keep the food supply lines going.
'We've got probably another couple difficult weeks.'
The supermarket executive warned shoppers they may need to change brand to find their favourite products.
'You might have to change brand or buy a different pack size,' he said. 'As it's a new year, try something different.
'It will take us a few weeks to fully recover from this and importantly, we need to get those team member numbers that are isolating back into the workforce to recover all of those food supplies.'
The Omicron variant has meant as much as 70 per cent of workers are unable to go to some factories and farms.
The peak industry body is calling for meat workers to get rapid antigen testing priority to keep them working or face a nationwide meat shortage in the next two weeks.
This Woolworths on Sydney's north shore had limited fresh produce and meat in stock earlier this week
An Aussie barbecue could be off the menu on Australia Day due to a national meat shortage caused by Covid (stock image)
'This is an emergency as of now,' Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson told Seven News.
'We're now seeing a large amount of meat workers who actually can't get to work.
'There's hundreds and hundreds of staff up and down the eastern seaboard, certainly Queensland, NSW and VIC who aren't able to get to work at this stage.'
He admitted there may be no lamb by Australia Day.
'That's a real possibility unless we get the settings right,' he replied.
'I'm actually concerned we will have a shortage because we just won't have the people on site over the next month to six weeks to be able to process anything.'
AMIC
