Storm Darcy: Food delivery 'chaos' as snowy weather forces supermarkets to cancel orders

Customers are being left without food deliveries as freezing temperatures continue to grip the Capital causing major travel disruption.

An Asda delivery van driving through snowy conditions in Scotland picture: PA/Andrew Milligan

Lynda Nielson, from Duddingston Row, received a message on Wednesday morning saying her weekly Asda food shop had to be cancelled due to the “adverse weather conditions."

She was then told the next available slot was not until the following week, unless she paid extra for an earlier delivery to be arranged.

“I was told to reorder it for any open slot that was convenient,” Ms Nielson said.

"I looked and the next suitable one for me which is Friday but that one cost more.

"So to get a slot as the same price I have had to reorder for the same slot next week.”

Ms Nielson has since put in an order with Iceland to tie her over until she can sort another delivery.

Another Edinburgh resident who lives in Powderhall Rigg said Tesco had cancelled his food order due to the severe weather conditions.

"Anyone needing a shop is having to find the next available slot,” he said.

"The next slot we could find is early March.

"It’s chaos for those who can’t make it to the shop.”

A Tesco customer in Dunfermline complained about the cancelled delivery orders saying: “I can’t reschedule as the order is still ‘order pending’ on the system. There doesn’t seem to be any slots left anyway and customer service isn’t taking calls so it’s impossible to speak to anyone.”

A spokesman at Asda said: “We know it is frustrating when the weather effects our delivery service and whilst we will always try our best to get shopping to our customers, we will let them know as soon as possible if there is going to be a delay, or offer to re-book their delivery for the next available slot on the rare occasion we need to cancel. We apologise again for any inconvenience caused.’’

A Tesco spokeswoman said: “We are very sorry that a small number of deliveries have been cancelled yesterday and today due to the snowy weather.

"Wherever possible we are rescheduling deliveries, particularly for vulnerable customers who have registered for priority access to online slots and who cannot shop in store.”

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