The French branches of M&S ran out of sandwiches and salads shortly after Brexit

The French branches of M&S ran out of sandwiches and salads shortly after Brexit

Britain's exit from the European single market and the customs union caused problems for some companies in the first week. The French branches of the retail chain Marks & Spencer (M&S) complained at the beginning of the week that they were running out of sandwiches and salads in the shops. M&S said the new trade rules, in force since 1 January, when Britain finally left the European Union (EU), are delaying the supply of some fresh food to its stores in France. Already on Monday, January 4, or Tuesday, several Parisian M&S stores had empty shelves. They sold out sandwiches, salads or tortillas.

Obstacles that did not exist before

From 1 January, the transport of goods between Britain and the EU is subject to tariff and other bureaucratic obstacles that did not exist before. The M&S management said in a statement that while it was preparing for the new conditions, it took a while for "all processes to be set up". The management added that they were working with partners, suppliers and relevant government agencies and local authorities to improve the situation quickly. Ready-made meals at Marks & Spencer stores are popular in Paris because they provide a menu of fresh meals to take away. This is an under-represented segment of the market in France, which has invented "top-class cuisine", where lunches in restaurants are considered a national ritual.