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Supermarkets and food suppliers are assuring people there is enough food for everyone throughout the Channel Islands, and have said they are taking steps to ensure this doesn't change.
The Guernsey Food Forum released a statement to say every business involved was working to keep the islands running.
The group said it wanted to "promise all islanders throughout the Bailiwick" that it was doing all it could to rise to "these unprecedented challenges" being presented by coronavirus.
"On behalf of Waitrose Guernsey, Alliance, Sandpiper CI, Creasey’s (Marks and Spencer), the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, Condor Ferries, Alderney Shipping, Channel Seaways and Ferryspeed, we would like to offer our assurances that there continues to be enough food and essential items for you and your family throughout the islands, and we’re taking steps so we can be doubly sure that doesn’t change," the statement said.
Pictured: Steve Champion-Smith, Executive Director at Condor, said "on behalf of all the companies involved we would like to say a huge thank to all colleagues across our supply chain network, our stores, the ships crews, the truck drivers and all those colleagues who are working tirelessly day and night to keep our islands fed”.
"We are, as a group of companies working very closely with our suppliers, each other, and the States of Guernsey to ensure that food and essential goods keep arriving and that our shelves in our stores stay well stocked. We’re working together to make sure trucks and ships keep moving in and out of our ports. We have two Load on, Load off (‘Lo Lo’) ships and two Roll on, Roll off (Ro Ro) ships (operated by Ferryspeed, Alderney shipping and Condor Ferries) specifically dedicated to providing ‘freight-only’ services for our Islands and we’re looking at securing additional freight capacity if needed.
"Many of the trailers and containers full of goods that arrive, are carefully collected and handled day and night by our colleagues at Ferryspeed and Channel Seaway’s and delivered across our stores in literally hours from the time we have ordered them."
The Food Forum said the work they were doing also needed everyone in the island to chip in. If people can be considerate in the way they shop - it will make suppliers and supermarkets' lives easier.
"In recent days, we have been seeing unprecedented demands in our warehouses, in our stores, on our ships and across our supply chain network. We understand your concerns, but buying more than is needed can sometimes mean that others are left without. It also puts pressure on other customers who feel they need to buy more than they really need. There is more than enough for everyone, if we all work together."
Pictured top: All the business involved in the Food Forum.
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