Grocery stores across the United States are stocking up on products to avoid shortages during a second wave of coronavirus.
▪ Southeastern Grocers bought its Thanksgiving turkeys and holiday hams over the summer, months before inventory planning normally begins. Associated Food Stores started stockpiling cleaning and sanitizing products. Early on in the pandemic, grocery stores were focusing on stockpiling weeks of supplies for shoppers. Now they are focusing on the long-term, stocking up on products for months instead.
▪ Paper towel shortages have been ongoing, mostly because people keep hoarding them. Clorox, the world’s biggest maker of disinfectant cleaning materials, said consumers will continue to see a shortage of its wipes and other products into 2021 because of overwhelming demand during the pandemic.
▪ With high demand for groceries comes higher prices in the aisles. Since March, more Americans have been eating at home — and their grocery expenses have been growing. This is partly due to the fact that food manufacturers and grocery stores are rethinking their pricing strategies now because demand is surging.