37 per cent of London businesses stockpiling before Olympics

37 per cent of London-based businesses have said they are planning to stockpile non-perishable goods in preparation for July and August’s Olympic Games.

The move comes as part of a bid to help reduce congestion during the Games by minimising unnecessary deliveries. There are plans for a number of road closures to allow athletes and officials easy access to the Olympic site, and Transport for London (TfL) has warned the capital’s hospitality sector to expect disruption to deliveries.

The director of planning at TfL surface transport, Ben Plowden, said roads in central London were expected to be “exceptionally busy” throughout the Games.

He added: “Freight accounts for 25 per cent of traffic in central London, so it’s encouraging to see that so many businesses are considering steps to reduce deliveries. Some companies are even sharing resources with neighbouring companies, which might be something that businesses would continue to benefit from after the Games have finished.”