More than half (54 per cent) of UK consumers surveyed by Invent.ai, the AI-native retail planning and inventory decisioning platform, report that shelf availability has deteriorated since the conflict in the Middle East escalated in February. The ongoing disruption along major shipping routes continues to hamper the movement of goods, leaving approximately £92 billion (around $124.2 billion) worth of shipping assets delayed. According to the research, 69 per cent of shoppers believe current product shortages stem directly from supply chain disruption linked to the conflict.
Concerns over grocery stockouts remain high, with 73 per cent of participants expecting inventory gaps to increase if maritime delays persist. Furthermore, 62 per cent of respondents pointed to sanctions and trade restrictions as key factors reducing item availability, while 49 per cent cited climate change as an additional contributor. Despite these logistics obstacles, consumer expectations remain firm. A significant 77 per cent expect supermarkets to keep essential everyday goods in stock, while 74 per cent expect retailers to provide appropriate substitute products whenever items are unavailable.
Impact of Shelf Gaps on Brand and Retail Loyalty
Persistent product shortages in UK are actively altering purchasing behavior and impacting consumer loyalty. Overall, 27 per cent of shoppers indicate that recurring shelf gaps prompt them to reconsider their loyalty to a supermarket. This trend is noticeably higher among younger demographics, rising to 46 per cent among Gen Z consumers and 39 per cent among Millennials. Additionally, 41 per cent of all respondents state they would shop elsewhere if required items are out of stock.
The apparel sector faces similar risks due to retail stockouts. Roughly 30 per cent of surveyed respondents say stockouts reduce their loyalty to a brand, with an equal 30 per cent stating they would purchase from competing retailers instead. Furthermore, 42 per cent of shoppers indicated they would turn to online marketplaces, while 45 per cent would search resale platforms such as Vinted for the same item. Among Millennials, the preference for resale platforms reaches 64 per cent.
Industry Perspective on Agility and Inventory Management
Addressing these ongoing shifts in buyer behavior, Lukas Fischer, sales director at invent ai, highlighted the reality facing modern merchants in the current market environment.
“While shoppers understand – and in many cases are sympathetic to – the supply chain challenges retailers are facing at macro-level, their expectations remain unchanged: products need to be available at the right time, in the right place and through the channel they prefer,” said Fischer. “When items aren’t available, shoppers won’t hesitate to switch retailers, brands or channels.”
Fischer emphasized that adopting proactive strategies is essential to managing retail stockouts and maintaining customer trust.
“In a trading environment where disruption and complexity are now the norm rather than the exception, retailers need to move beyond reactive inventory management and build greater agility, visibility and responsiveness into their planning processes to protect sales and strengthen long-term customer relationships,” Fischer concluded.
