Major supermarket hit by shortages as shoppers spot popular items missing from shelves
A MAJOR supermarket has been hit with stock shortages, leaving customers fuming over missing items.
A number of Morrisons shoppers have taken to X and Facebook in recent days complaining about a lack of fresh produce on shelves.
It comes after a software system the retailer uses to control its supply chain was hit by hackers.
The ransomware attack has seen the supermarket suffering from a lack of fresh stock including fruit and veg.
It is understood dried and frozen goods are unaffected with stock levels as per normal.
Posting on X, one Morrisons customer said their local branch was full of empty shelves after "a computer issue which meant stock wasn't sent to stores".
Read more on Retail
Another, posting pictures of empty fresh produce shelves, commented: "More reasons not to shop at Morrisons.
"Empty shelf after empty shelf at Blaydon Morrisons."
A third fuming customer posted a series of videos on Facebook with shelves bare at one London branch, adding: "Morrisons you can't genuinely think this is acceptable.
"It's like the customers have to choose between stock or staff, as you can't have both!! Absolutely diabolical!"
A spokesperson for Morrisons said the software it uses to manage its warehouses, run by Blue Yonder, was hit by hackers late last week, which has impacted the supply chain to stores.
They added: "Ambient and frozen are unaffected.
"We are currently operating satisfactorily on our back up systems and we're working very hard to deliver for our customers across the country."
Morrisons declined to comment when asked how many supermarkets were experiencing stock shortages.
However, comments on X and Facebook suggest there are issues nationwide.
A Blue Yonder spokesperson said: "Blue Yonder experienced disruptions to its managed services hosted environment, which was determined to be the result of a ransomware incident.
"Since learning of the incident, the Blue Yonder team has been working diligently together with external cybersecurity firms to make progress in their recovery process.
"We have implemented several defensive and forensic protocols.
"We have notified relevant customers and will continue to communicate as appropriate."
The spokesperson added updates on the malware attack will be posted via https://blueyonder.com/customer-update.
Blue Yonder, a tech company headquartered in Arizona, USA, has over 120 customers across the globe, including major UK retailers.
This includes Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco.
It's not the first time in recent years Morrisons shoppers have been hit with food shortages at stores.
Last year, the supermarket was forced to limit purchases on some fruit and veg following a bout of cold weather in Spain and Morocco.
In 2022, the retailer joined Tesco and Iceland in rationing cooking oil due to shortages sparked by the Ukraine and Russia war.
Shoppers were limited to just two bottles of sunflower oil in a bid to stop stock running out.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Four years prior, shoppers were left fuming after Morrisons ran out of stock during a summer heatwave.
Customers at a number of stores across the UK spotted vast empty shelves, but Morrisons insisted it was not a nationwide problem.
How to save on your supermarket shop
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories