Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – Truck blockades are causing significant and very serious problems for food companies, particularly those producing perishable foods. This is according to the Italian Union.
Food, a trade association affiliated with Confindustria, citing protests by truck drivers and farmers against high fuel prices, which have been ongoing since last week and could continue until October 27, while many supermarkets in Southern Italy are already experiencing shortages.
One example is fresh-cut products and all those with a short shelf life, which are experiencing difficulties not only in product delivery but also in the availability of raw materials for processing. Unione Italiana Food hopes that the dedicated roundtable meeting brought forward by Minister Salvini to tomorrow, Tuesday, October 20, will be helpful in stabilizing the situation, so that raw material producers, processing companies, and transport companies can resume their activities with peace of mind.
In fact, this situation is currently leading, in some heavily affected areas, to even shut down production plants, with inevitable effects on supermarket shelves as well.
Pasquale Russo, vice president of Confcommercio and president of Conftrasporto, also weighed in on the issue. "The effects of the road transport bans affecting various areas of the country, especially in Southern Italy, are growingly concerning. They are already causing supply difficulties for shops and supermarkets, particularly for fresh and perishable food products, but also for other goods, such as household appliances and consumer electronics.
A situation that, if it were to continue, could jeopardize the regular availability of products, causing economic damage to businesses and further inconvenience to consumers,” he said.
"We understand," he continued, "the reasons for the distress experienced by truck drivers, faced with unsustainable increases in fuel and energy costs, and we reiterate the need for urgent measures to support the sector, as already emphasized in recent days. At the same time, however, it is essential to guarantee the free movement of goods and continuity of supplies, preventing the consequences of the protest from falling on other businesses and families."
"For this reason," Russo concluded, "we hope that tomorrow's meeting with Minister Salvini will provide concrete and immediate responses to the difficulties facing road haulage, creating the conditions for the rapid lifting of the restrictions and the restoration of regular freight distribution. We must prevent an already severe crisis for the transport sector from turning into an emergency for the entire supply chain and for consumers."
saving
webinfo@adnkronos.com (Web Info)