Supermarket customers faced frustration on Wednesday due to the ‘severe’ heatwave sweeping across the UK, causing disruptions in refrigeration systems and resulting in empty shelves at major stores.

Stores like Tesco and M&S displayed warnings on malfunctioning fridges and freezers, leading to sparse aisles in various outlets, including those in Haslingden, Crewe, and Altrincham. The issue extended to Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.

The high temperatures in Britain posed challenges for the supermarkets’ cooling systems, impacting the availability of essential items like meat and milk. Numerous supermarket branches across the country experienced similar problems.

Social media posts highlighted the issue, with one shopper alerting others about broken fridges at Haslingden Tesco. Images and videos also surfaced showing empty fridges at a Tesco in Altrincham, with notices explaining the situation.

Additional reports indicated out-of-order fridges at M&S outlets and other supermarkets, including Waitrose in Sandbach. Customers lamented the lack of refrigeration in various stores, attributing it to the scorching weather conditions.

The record-breaking heat on Wednesday prompted social media users to share their experiences, with temperatures reaching a provisional 36C, surpassing the previous June record. Individuals reported encountering offline fridges at different supermarkets, emphasizing the abnormality of the situation.

In Swindon, a Morrisons branch apologized for maintenance issues leading to empty freezers. The extreme heatwave, triggering amber and red warnings from the Met Office, affected large parts of England and Wales, with forecasts indicating prolonged hot and humid conditions.

Tesco, M&S, and Waitrose were reached out to for comments on the refrigeration disruptions.