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Lunchtime shoppers in Ulster were disappointed yesterday after finding the sandwich shelves empty at Marks & Spencer as the foot-and- mouth outbreak interrupted supplies from Britain.
Signs were put up in the store blaming the situation on a shortage of supplies and promising to rectify matters.
A spokesperson said a small selection of sandwiches will be available from today, made up on the premises.
Meanwhile, Tesco said it was unable to supply a number of ready meals normally found on supermarket shelves in Northern Ireland.
A spokesman said: "Because much of our food is sourced locally, it isn't such a big issue. Northern Ireland doesn't have a lot of companies that do ready meals."
Graham Furey, deputy president with the Ulster Farmers Union, suggested there are plenty of food processors in Northern Ireland who could step in. " This throws up the issue of single sourcing and central distribution," he said.
Meanwhile, Dale Farm said it has suspended exports after a number of countries proved reluctant to accept shipments of dairy products.
