Overview
- Forecasters predict a further heatwave between July 8 and July 11 with temperatures that could reach about 41C, raising fresh concerns for farms and food logistics.
- Analysts warn high temperatures increase heat stress on birds, especially during transport, which contributed to about 18,500 chickens dying in transit in the 2022 heatwave.
- Last week's heat already caused some supermarket shelves to go empty when refrigeration and cooling systems failed, showing how heat can disrupt retail supply quickly.
- Farming groups say repeated record heat in May and June has weakened farm resilience by drying soils and stressing livestock, making the sector more vulnerable to another hot spell.
- If transport, processing or cold-storage breaks occur again, retailers and restaurants could face short-term shortages like the 2018 KFC supply disruption, so industry and stores are preparing contingency steps.