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Steve Murrells said getting certain products was the most difficult he had ever known. He said: “It is chronic. When you can’t get any bottled water that is pretty fundamental.”

Mr Murrells, chief executive of the Co-operative Group with more than 2,500 stores, added: “For the last five or six weeks things have been getting progressively worse.”

The boss of frozen food rival Iceland said driver shortages have cancelled bread deliveries to 100 stores a day.

Managing director Richard Walker also warned: “The reason for sounding the alarm now is that we’ve already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute. I’d hate this one to be problematic as well.

“We start to stock-build from September onwards for what is a hugely important time of year.”

Tesco chairman John Allan told BBC Radio 4’s World At One before Christmas, the best “solution would be to allow UK industry to bring in skilled drivers from elsewhere.

“At the moment we’re running very hard just to keep on top of the existing demand and there isn’t the capacity to build stocks that we’d like to see. So in that sense, I think there may be some shortages at Christmas.”

The reason for sounding the alarm now is that we’ve already had one Christmas cancelled at the last minute

Richard Walker

John Lewis has raised drivers’ pay by up to £5,000 a year, with “golden hellos” of £1,000.

However, industry chiefs warn this and other pressures will lead to higher prices in shops.

The trucker shortfall has been worsened by Brexit, while the pandemic stalled training and the “pingdemic” caused others to stay at home.

Retailers’ stock levels are at their lowest since 1983. Schools are being told by the Federation of Wholesale Distributors to build up food supplies.

The Government is reportedly looking at allowing extra-long “eco-friendly” lorries but Iceland’s Mr Walker called for HGV drivers to be added to the UK’s skilled workers list to boost overseas recruitment.

Subway said it had “minor supply chain shortages” while burger giant McDonald’s ran out of milkshakes.

Greggs said it was “seeing temporary interruptions in supply for some ingredients”.

Q&A

WHAT IS THE SCALE OF THE LORRY DRIVER SHORTAGE? The figure has been put at between 90,000 and 100,000.

WHY IS THERE A SHORTAGE NOW? Brexit has seen drivers return home, while the pandemic has disrupted training and caused absences. Low pay and ageing workers don’t help.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT? Businesses face delays and rising costs. Shops have empty shelves.

ARE THERE OTHER REASONS? A lack of people to do everything from harvesting to factory work.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? Firms are offering pay rises and “golden hellos” to drivers of up to £1,000. Some want the Army or even prisoners to do the job. There are also calls for the easing of visa rules.

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