Can't find everything you want at the grocery store? Here's why.

[yaesu]

Grocery-store chains are still battling supply challenges that some executives said are as bad as what they saw in spring 2020, when hoarding left holes in stocks of some staples.

Industry executives say new problems are arising weekly, driven by shortages of labor and raw materials. Groceries including frozen waffles and beverages remain scarce as some food companies anticipate disruptions lasting into 2022. A wider range of products is running short and logistical challenges are compounding for many retailers.

Donny Rouse, chief executive of Louisiana-based Rouses Markets, said he is struggling to fill shelves as his company runs low on everything from pet food to canned goods. The chain of more than 60 supermarkets is sometimes receiving as little as 40% of what it orders, prompting Mr. Rouse and his staff to try to secure products earlier and more often. Before the pandemic, Rouses received well over 90% of its orders.

“It is difficult for customers to get everything they want to get,” said Mr. Rouse, grandson of the chain’s founder.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-you-cant-find-everything-you-want-at-grocery-stores-11629633601

Let me take a moment to thank all the hard workers who produce our food, staff the stores, warehouses, shipping, without them we would be FUBAR.

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Haven't had an issue where I live in months.

[yaesu]

3. Doesn't seem to be too bad here locally but noticed one large retailer I order from

just to keep trips to the store at a minimum has been running out & delivery has been taking longer. I think worker shortage in both supply & retail is the biggest factor.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. Same Here

I see no real empty space except for modest volume goods that are delivered once a week.
Supermarket shelves are pretty much full front to back.
I have heard that with a driver shortage, stores are adjusting stocking hours because delivery times can't be assured for day hours.
But, it's still getting to the stores.
We are, however, in the fringes of a major metro area. It's also one of the highest concentrations of consumer product logistics & warehousing in the US. There is literally over 3 square miles of indoor storage within 18 miles of our house.
That probably smooths things out around here.

[hauckeye]

2. Interesting about the frozen waffles

My son wanted frozen French Toast sticks and there were none in the stores I checked. The shelves where they would be were empty .

[drmeow]

4. Trader Joe's was picked over yesterday

the cashier said it was back to school but it seemed to be a lot more than that.

[Midnight Writer]

5. Shortages here in Central Illinois. Not catastrophic, but lots of bare shelves.

Prices on beef and dairy have really jumped.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

6. I've noticed shortages, but nothing like last year

Beef is definitely more expensive, I haven't noticed milk being much higher for list price, but I have noticed it isn't going on sale like it used to though, so I can't count on that savings. It does seem like the stores aren't restocking as often, which could be from labor shortages as well.

[Paper Roses]

7. I can eat just about anything but:

My 12 year old shelter kitty will only eat one particular food. Purina Fancy Feast Medleys. The flavor called Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare with Garden Greens.
Sounds like a silly thing to worry about but thru the years, I have tried so many different cat foods with no results. She would not touch it. Always bough 2 cans of the other brand(just in case) donated the one unopened can to the shelter.
I have to go to 3 grocery stores to find this food and struck out totally the last 4 weeks. I buy by the case so I have a few days supply left.
I'll try tomorrow at each store to see if they have stock. Who would of thought that there was a shortage of cat food, especially from Purina.

If you find a special food that your pet will eat, nothing else, I would suggest you buy more than you need. This situation is awful.

As an aside, I cannot find Shout, Easy off Oven Cleaner, Fragrance Free Laundry Soap and a few other items.
If you want Pasta sauce, you can find about a thousand jars. What is happening on the wholesale level? Is it the manufacturer or the wholesaler? I have to drive a long distance to find this food. Locally the flavor is not available. If I find any quantity tomorrow, I'll buy as much as I can. Phooey on the "no hoarding", my kitty has to eat.

[Donkees]

9. Chewy has cases of Fancy Feast Medleys Shredded White Meat Chicken in stock...

https://www.chewy.com/fancy-feast-medleys-shredded-white/dp/103789

Price:
$22.99
FREE 1-3 DAY SHIPPING OVER $49

[Deuxcents]

8. Yep.. I figured

Went to my local Publix today.. shelves not stocked. No eggs.. again. I went a couple of days ago n same thing so.. thanks for your post

[2naSalit]

10. I haven't been able to get into a grocery store...

In two weeks because not very many are masking, they store is always packed, and many inside the store are traveling tourists.

I am back to lock-down status and have been nearly the whole summer. I was lax about wearing my mask for about a week but it made me really nervous when early reports of the delta variant started to emerge so I went back to staying home or being alone wherever I go and wearing a mask when I get around people, indoors or out. Besides, I'm having oral surgery this week and need to be responsible and avoid exposure to protect those who will be doing the surgery and their staff.

[chia]

12. See this regularly in San Diego county. It seems so random - one day it's no refried beans of any

brand, another day it's none of the pasta I need. One day there wasn't a single package of the brand of butter I buy. There are certain cleaners I still can't find. So though I remind myself how fortunate I am to be able to walk into any store on any given day and usually find what I want, it's an odd feeling to wonder if/when I'll get certain things I'm looking for, even almost a year and a half later. Compared to much of the world, I have a bounty at my fingertips and I don't want to sound ungrateful. It just feels unsettled, like a sense of stability I'd always felt has been tilted.

[spinbaby]

13. It is very random

This week it was cream cheese, romaine lettuce, and sliced ham lunch meat. I’ve taken to overstocking a bit again, just in case.

[chia]

14. Me too. I always did, a little, as earthquake preparedness. But now, it's always in the back of my

mind that if I don't pick this thing up now, it might not be here next week.