British Retail Consortium (BRC) has made comment on the newly released Yellowhammer documents.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive, said, “The Yellowhammer document confirms what retailers have been saying for the last three years – fresh food availability will decrease, consumer choice will decrease, and prices will rise. This isn’t good for the British public and this isn’t good for British retailers.'
“A no-deal Brexit in November represents the worst possible timing for the retail industry and the consumers it serves.
'Warehousing availability will be limited as retailers prepare for Black Friday and Christmas, many fresh fruit and vegetables will be out of season in the UK, and imports will be hampered by disruption through the Channel Straits that could reduce flow by up to 60% for up to three months.
“While retailers are doing all they can to prepare for a no deal Brexit, it is impossible to completely mitigate the negative impact it would have - something the Government itself has acknowledged.'
Dickinson concluded, 'The fact remains that a damaging, no deal Brexit is in no one’s interests and it is vital that a solution is found, and fast, that ensures frictionless tariff-free trade with the EU after our departure.”