‘Close dialogue’ with industry to improve resilience of supply chain

Chief Minister Kristina Moore Picture: DAVID FERGUSON. (34973628)

GOVERNMENT officers have been meeting industry representatives to improve Jersey’s supply-chain resilience in the wake of weather-related disruption.

In a written response to a question from St Brelade Constable Mike Jackson, Chief Minister Kristina Moore said ‘close dialogue’ was being maintained with the logistical, retail and wholesale sectors.

She also said ‘enhancing trade links via Brittany and Normandy’ would bolster the Island’s access to products such as food and medical supplies.

Currently, local stocks typically vary between two and 21 days for food stored at room temperature and three to 21 days for frozen food.

Additionally, the Health and Community Services Department usually holds between four and six weeks’ worth of drug stocks, while supplies at the Hospital include six weeks of ‘consumables’ stock.

Mr Jackson asked if the government was planning to increase these supplies.

His question comes after an extended period of bad weather that disrupted the Island’s freight deliveries and left supermarket shelves bare on multiple occasions.

Former farmer Deputy Steve Luce recently warned that the situation was being made worse ‘by the lack of fresh, locally-grown vegetables’.

In her response to Mr Jackson, Deputy Moore said: ‘The Council of Ministers have committed to improving Jersey’s connectivity and adding greater resilience to our supply-chains. The Island currently imports only a small amount of its food and medical supplies from France (and continental Europe) and enhancing trade links via Brittany and Normandy would significantly improve the resilience in our supply chain.’

She added: ‘The government’s tactical co-ordination group includes a specific supply-chain cell which was stood up during 2022. This group meets regularly to assess the ongoing resilience of Jersey’s supply chains and escalates, where necessary, risks to the attention of the tactical co-ordination group and ministers.

‘The government maintains close dialogue with the logistical, retail and wholesale sectors and officers met with representatives of these industries recently to discuss resilience planning following weather-related delays.’

– Advertisement –
– Advertisement –