"Many Photos" - No-deal Brexit could DOUBLE the price of imported fresh foods, retail groups warn

A no-deal Brexit could see the price of fresh food and drink increase by up to 45 per cent, retail groups have warned. 

The stark warning comes amid fears the UK and the European Union might revert to World Trade Organisation tariffs should a deal not be struck before March 29.   

Chiefs of retail bodies have expressed concern that a no-deal Brexit will squeeze household budgets and lead to reduced availability of some goods.

And in a move that has been labelled 'not acceptable', could also see cost implications of non-tariff barriers such as checks and delays. 

Retail groups have warned that a no-deal Brexit would lead to increases in the cost of making fresh food and drink available to consumers (file image)

Aodhan Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, is one of those to have spoken out about the dangers of a no-deal Brexit.

He said that increased tariffs and new regulatory checks would lead to increases in the cost of making fresh food and drink available to consumers. 

'A no-deal Brexit brings tariffs, customs processes, checks and costs which our industry, and Northern Ireland families in particular, cannot afford to absorb.

'Our households already have half of the discretionary income of British households and less than those in the Republic of Ireland. A no-deal Brexit will hit us first and hit us hardest. This is not acceptable.' 

In the event of a no-deal, there would be no transition period, and individuals and businesses would have to adapt immediately to new arrangements.

Aodhan Connolly (pictured), director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said that increased tariffs and new regulatory checks would lead to increases in the cost of making fresh food and drink available to consumers

The UK would leave EU structures such as the single market and customs union and would fall back on World Trade Organisation rules, which require tariffs on many imports and exports.

Mr Connolly continued: 'A hard Brexit means a hard border and the disintegration of supply chains that have been built up over 40 years of EU membership.

'This is not a binary choice for Northern Ireland between trade with the UK and trade with the EU.'

Thomas Burke, director of Retail Ireland, and William Bain, from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Europe, have both also raised concerns over the feared price hike.

Mr Burke, of Retail Ireland, said that a crash Brexit would have devastating economic consequences.

He said: 'However, regardless of the type of Brexit agreed over the coming weeks, retailers will see an increase in their operating costs arising from checks at ports and other supply chain disruption.

'In the current operating environment, these additional costs simply cannot be absorbed and will have to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

'Our members continue to work hard to plan for all possible eventualities, but the ongoing uncertainty is damaging our industry and impacting our customers.'

It's not just fresh food and drink that could be affected, with leading retail bodies concerned over the impact of a no-deal Brexit on UK and Ireland (file image)

Mr Bain said people in Great Britain will see the price of goods from Ireland and Northern Ireland rise.

'Our supply chains are highly integrated, with food ingredients coming from both Ireland and the EU, and 60 per cent of the £2 billion of Northern Ireland agri-food bound for Great Britain crosses the Irish sea via Dublin,' he said.

'This will affect the price of shopping in the Prime Minister's constituency of Maidenhead in the same way as it will in Belfast or Dublin, with cost rises.'

The retailers called for an end to 'brinkmanship and political games'.

'A no-deal outcome would have devastating economic consequences, potentially jeopardising years of positive economic development and integration across the islands of the UK and Ireland,' Mr Bain added.

'It is imperative that this is avoided.'

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News Photo No-deal Brexit could DOUBLE the price of imported fresh foods, retail groups warn 
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