Coupe warned retailers would have little ability to stockpile products in the manner they did ahead of the postponed March and May Brexit deadlines, at a time when space in the supply chain is dominated by Black Friday and Christmas products.

He cautioned that a potential no-deal Brexit and the sudden halt of trading agreements – which could spark the introduction of tariffs and delays at ports – could make it difficult for retailers to import goods such as toys and technology, creating a “potentially disruptive” Christmas for consumers.

Coupe’s comments came just weeks after Dave Lewis, the boss of Sainsbury’s big-four rival Tesco, voiced similar concerns about the “challenging” timing of Brexit.