Warehouses to stockpile food for a no-deal Brexit may be empty because they have been snapped up by Amazon to pounce on the UK market, an inquiry by MPs has been told.

The Food and Drink Federation warned that all available frozen and chilled space had been taken – but no one knew who had taken it and whether there was anything in it.

“What we don’t know is whether there is actual product in those places,” said Ian Wright, the federation’s chief executive.

And he added: “There is some gossip, and I can’t stand this up, that quite a lot of this has been booked by Amazon for their entry into the food market at some point over the next few months.

“Every retailer is inevitably terrified by that prospect and will talk it up.”

Mr Wright suggested it was a “useful question” for MPs put to the boss of Amazon, but warned: “He won’t tell you.”

Theresa May revealed in July that plans were underway to stockpile food – in case imports from the EU are cut off if the UK crashes out without an agreement – but denied the public should be “worried”.

However, Mr Wright said space had now almost run out with food and drink manufacturers in the dark about who had booked it up.

“Frozen and chilled are, for all practical purposes, booked out at the moment,” he told the Commons business committee.

A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. 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PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleâ€™s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at London’s march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. 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final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - final say on our furture London, 20 October 2018 Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say march for the future London, 20 October 2018 Credit: Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final say Brexit march - 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“There is some ambient available, but it’s in the wrong part of the country. It’s not where you need it on your particular supply journey.”

And he added: “For long-term planning for big or medium-sized businesses, it won’t work.”

Mr Wright also warned of inevitable price hikes in the shops, if stockpiling took place, saying: “There’s nowhere to go. If costs go up, you either have to absorb them or you have to pass them on in price increases.”

Amazon has been contacted for comment on the claim it has bought up available warehousing space in the UK.

In common with other retailers, food and drink manufacturers have backed the prime minister’s Brexit deal, in relief that it would avoid the damage from crashing out of the EU.

However, Mr Wright said the federation remained opposed to ending free movement of labour – a criticism he had put to Ms May in person at a meeting this week.

And, on the “political declaration”, which was meant to outline a future trade deal, he added: “It’s a list of new year resolutions – and we don’t know whether they will still be there at the end of January.”

Both Mr Wright and Ian Rayson, of Nestlé, cast doubt on a solution ever being found to deliver frictionless trade, while avoiding the return of a hard border in Ireland.

“We’re not aware of technologies that can magically solve the problem,” Mr Rayson told the committee.