Tesco reintroduces purchasing limits on certain products

In an email from UK chief executive Jason Tarry, Tesco sought to reassure customers it was well provisioned to get through Christmas and the new year despite the ongoing closure of French and Belgian ports to the UK due to the emergence of a new strain of coronavirus. 

However, Tarry did say that the retailer would be reintroducing purchasing limits on some products including eggs, rice, soap and toilet roll in order to “make sure that everyone can get the food they need in a safe environment”.

“We have strict social distancing measures in our stores to keep our colleagues and customers safe, and we have plenty of food available to suit your needs at Christmas,” said Tarry.

Tarry reiterated Tesco has “good availability on the small number of fresh products, such as lettuce, cauliflower and citrus fruit” that it imports from France at this time of year. 

He also noted that the grocer is currently operating more than 300 of its larger stores under 24-hour opening until Christmas Eve. 

The move came after France and much of the European Union closed its borders to the UK on Sunday, following news that London and the South East had been overrun by a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus. 

While a temporary ban on travel was disruptive enough, the French ban on returning hauliers and freight caught the UK government by surprise and led to chaotic scenes of huge lorry queues at ports such as Dover. 

Overnight, France reopened its ports of entry to its citizens, British nationals living in the country and hauliers, as long as they’ve had a recent, negative test result. 

The BBC reported that the army has deployed soldiers alongside Test and Trace staff in Kent to carry out rapid tests on stranded lorry drivers.

Despite France and the UK reaching an agreement, more than 50 other countries, including Italy, India and Pakistan, are continuing to block travellers from the UK.