SCORES of small convenience stores and village shops across west Wiltshire are being hit by a decision by a food and drink wholesale operator in Bristol to halt deliveries until the end of August.

Bookers Wholesale UK offers branded and private label goods to over 400,000 customers nationwide, including independent convenience stores, grocers, pubs and restaurants.

The cash and carry giant told retail customers it has stopped deliveries after many ‘pickers’ at its Avonmouth warehouse were forced to self-isolate after being ‘pinged’ by NHS Covid-19 track and trace applications.

The problem has also hit many of the large high street food retail chains, with shoppers encountering empty shelves in supermarket aisles as stock has failed to arrive.

A Booker spokesperson said: “Although we do not discuss individual colleagues or customers, this is a challenging time, however our team at Avonmouth are working hard to recover this for our customers.

“We will happily pick up with any retailer to understand and resolve their particular issues.”

Julian Baker, proprietor of the Westwood Village Stores and Post Office near Bradford on Avon, says the decision will cause “great inconvenience” to his customers if he is unable to obtain goods to restock his empty shelves.

He said: “This week’s order comes in on Thursday, and we are told on the day what isn’t available, and none of the grocery products were out of stock.

“I phoned Avonmouth and said ‘what’s going on?’ I spoke to the manager and I was told that they didn’t have staff because of the ping from the NHS and they had no pickers.

“They prioritised our chilled stuff and our drinks and our cigarettes but none of the groceries.

“I went over to Trowbridge to get as much as I could but their Trowbridge depot is primarily for catering outlets whereas Avonmouth is primarily for retailers.

“I got quite a lot of the stuff there but noticed there were more people there than usual.

“When I got back, I had a phone call from the manager’s deputy to say they’d had a meeting and it was decided that we were one of the shops that no longer would be provided with a delivery service.”

Mr Baker, 57, said Booker was “penalising” small shops and stores that don’t spend as much as some of Booker’s larger customers.

Parmjit Jatchoul, 52, co-owner of The Grocery Basket Premier convenience store in St Margaret's Street, Bradford on Avon, said their business had also been affected.

"This has been going on for nearly 20 days. We've only been receiving deliveries of chilled beer and wine and soft drinks.

"We've had no groceries, no crepes, and no chocolates and sweets. We have been struggling and losing money."

Mrs Jatchoul said her husband Dav had been to the Booker cash and carry warehouse in Avonmouth to collect the stock they need.

Since buying the Westwood Village Stores last November, Mr Baker has improved business by stocking food and drink products from Booker and fresh produce such as bread and meat from local suppliers.

He added: “I will be able to obtain most stuff but it will mean me going to Trowbridge. I will have to go really early or get a staff member in, which is going to cost money. Some things we won’t be able to get. I am not fully sure of what yet but there will certainly be some things that aren’t available.

“The store won’t close but it will be an inconvenience. We are already stretched with Covid and it’s another nail in the coffin for local stores.”

“It is going to cause great inconvenience to our customers and some products won’t be available in the shop. It will affect the smaller stores more than it will the big ones.”

The irony is that trade has been improving for the Westwood Village Stores, with customers coming in to use the Post Office, which is open longer hours, and buying essential groceries and other items while there.

Mr Baker added: “Customers come primarily from the village and from other local villages, such as Freshford, Iford and Bradford on Avon.”