// B&M boss Simon Arora attacks “nonsense” Irish border checks
// The retailer needs veterinary sign-offs for every lorry to send Pot Noodles from Liverpool to Dublin
// Arora has called on the UK government to resolve the disruption
B&M chief executive Simon Arora has reportedly condemned the “nonsense” Irish border rules that have forced the retailer to carry out excessive veterinary checks across the Irish Sea.
Arora said the discount chain must get veterinary sign-off for every lorry to send beef and tomato Pot Noodles from Liverpool to Dublin, The Telegraph reported.
He has urged the government to resolve the disruption as Brexit red tape continues to affect movement for retailers and suppliers.
READ MORE: B&M pre-tax profit more than doubles to £525m
“If I want to ship beef and tomato pot noodles from Liverpool to Dublin I’ve got to get veterinary sign-off for every lorry. It’s a big problem,” he said.
“Why do we have this friction? It makes no sense. The current situation is deeply unsatisfactory. The politicians need to fix it.”
British exports of animal and plant products to the EU are now required to be accompanies by health certificates issued by a registered official veterinarian following the UK’s departure.
The call from Arora comes after B&M’s sales soared by £1 billion during the year to March 21 to £4.8 billion.
Arora said it had been an “exceptional” year, with like-for-like sales jumping 24 per cent in the UK.
The company said pre-tax profits soared by 108 per cent to £525 million during the period.
At the height of the pandemic, B&M hired 7000 new staff in the year amid a surge in demand.
Arora said B&M’s sales will remain strong as the economy reopens and was encouraged by the significant number of new customers in its near-1000 shops.
However, he also warned that there are many “uncertainties” as society slowly emerges from lockdown and trading patterns are likely to be “unpredictable” for much of the year.
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