The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt in many aspects of our lives. One that is particularly challenging for our co-op is the impact on our food supply — demand for many products—combined with disruptions in the production and transportation sectors—is again exceeding supply, reducing our ability to keep our shelves fully stocked to meet the needs of our members and shoppers.
Early in the pandemic, panic buying was the cause of many of the out-of-stock situations that grocers experienced. Although the food industry was able to rebound somewhat, the sustained nature of the pandemic, combined with the slow pace of vaccination globally and the recent surge caused by the Delta variant, have resurfaced the problem. There is a scarcity of many raw materials and labor shortages persist for national manufacturers, distributors and transportation companies alike. Key materials used in food and beverage packaging, especially glass and aluminum, are in short supply.
While the food industry is taking many steps to mitigate the problem, recovery estimates continue to be delayed and out-of-stocks on some products from national suppliers are likely through the end of the year. Fortunately, we are members of NCG, National Cooperative Grocers, a nationwide cooperative made up of grocery co-ops. NCG has been working with our major distributors to make sure we, and other co-ops around the country, are being prioritized.
When an item is out of stock for a week or more:
· We will replace the out-of-stock item with a similar product;
· The replacement may be a bit different—in price, style, or flavor;
· We will monitor the status of the original, out-of-stock item;
· When supply is restored, we will bring back the original item (unless the new replacement is just too good to part with!)
Our food system is strong, and these challenges will be resolved in time. You can rest assured that everyone here at the Co-op is working hard at keeping our shelves stocked with delicious, healthy food that you will love. Thank you for your support and patronage as we continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic. We’re all in this together!