The BBC reports Britain’s biggest pub group are claiming some pubs are running out of certain beer brands as CO2 gas shortages continue to hit the food and drink sectors.

Ei Group, which has 4,500 properties, said it was working with publicans to source alternative beers where needed, while Wetherspoon pubs are temporarily without draught John Smith’s and Strongbow cider.

But the use of carbon dioxide in food and drinks industry isn’t limited to putting the gas in beer and cider. It is also used in stunning farm animals before slaughter, and as a preservative to increase the shelf life of packaged products.

Commenting on the impact of the crisis, Ian Simkins, managing director, Silven Recruitment, a food and drink manufacturing staffing specialist, told Recruiter the crisis is affecting the agency’s clients.

While he adds there has not been a knock-on effect for his business up until now, Simkins does have concerns the crisis could lead to problems further down the line.

“It could affect manufacturers because they won’t be able to produce, which means they will stop recruiting and won’t be able to get stock on the shelves and affect us that way.

“It could have a more fundamental effect in that the supermarkets start looking bare as a lot of products won’t be able to be manufactured. That would affect recruitment, as people aren’t going to hire while they can’t produce.”

Also commenting, Ed Vokes, director at hospitality recruiter Evolve Hospitality, told Recruiter that thus far his clients have not been adversely affected.

“That’s not to say it won’t... but the companies aren’t going to let down the big boys, so to speak. It will be smaller businesses that rely on the trade that will be let down first I’d imagine.

“Let’s see – but so far so good,” he added.

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