Dubai: Emirates has flown two cargo planes filled with 90,000 kilograms of biscuits in response to a biscuit shortage in the UK, an Emirates spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.
In an e-mailed statement to Gulf News, Emirates said: “The shipment departed from Johannesburg on March 1, via Dubai, with a cargo weight of around 90,000kg. The shipment arrived in Doncaster on March 2. This was a one-off charter by the customer.”
The Dubai-based airline further confirmed that the cargo planes used to transport the biscuits were two Boeing 777F aircraft, which landed at South Yorkshire’s airport – also known as Robin Hood Airport.
The Doncaster Free Press had reported earlier this week that the apparent shortage was caused after United Biscuits, which manufactures McVitie’s, Jacob’s and Crawford’s products, closed its Carlisle factory due to flooding last December.
Dayle Hauxwell, the airport's cargo manager, told the Doncaster Free Press: “There has been a lot of press coverage about Britain’s biscuit shortage following the floods in December and we are pleased to hear that the factories hope to be up and running again this month.”
“In the mean time we’ve been delighted to welcome two flights from Emirates full of the nation’s favourite biscuits,” he said.
Although production of some of the biscuits have restarted, United Biscuits said in a statement that it could take “several months” until its operations are fully resumed.
United Biscuits had also said the factory is “well on its way to the full resumption of baking,” according to international reports.
“Due to floods in Carlisle we are experiencing a shortage of a number products under the McVitie’s, Jacob’s, Carr’s and Crawford’s brands,” the biscuit manufacturing company said in a statement in January.
“We apologise if consumers are finding it difficult to get hold of some of these products and we are working hard at our Carlisle site to resume normal service as soon as possible.”
