The gas shortage in Europe may have unexpectedly negative consequences for the UK. The soaring gas prices and the fuel shortage may jeopardize the celebration of one of the jolliest holidays of the year - Christmas.
As it turned out, the gas shortage in Europe has triggered disruptions in the frozen food supply chain. If the situation does not improve, UK residents will have to revise their traditional menu for Christmas dinner. On top of that, not long ago, several British plants producing dry ice suspended operations or closed completely due to high gas prices. Thus, many local grocery stores had to get rid of frozen food products. Two British plants located in Ince and Billingham have recently reported the suspension of work due to skyrocketing gas prices. CF Industries, which owns both companies, struggles to tell when exactly both plants will resume operation. Christmas dinners could be "cancelled" due to the shortage of carbon dioxide gas (CO2), the owner of Ocado, the largest chain of stores, said. "There are less than 100 days left until Christmas and Bernard Matthews and my other poultry businesses are working harder than ever before to try and recruit people to maintain food supplies," Ranjit Singh Boparan, the owner of Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group, pointed out.
The difficulties experienced by the fertilizer market due to the energy crisis could make the Christmas season gloomier. The rise in the cost of fertilizers will inevitably push food prices higher. In 2021, gas prices in Europe more than tripled. Analysts fear that the energy crisis may undermine the economic recovery in the eurozone. After Brexit, the UK is also on the verge of an energy catastrophe.
