Empty Shelves At Supermarkets

[StakeOut]

The wife and I went food shopping today and visited 3 different ones in our area and all had a lot of empty spots on the selves a in the freezers.
It was very noticeable in HEB where whole sections of fresh produce and frozen foods were bare.Walmart was the same and maybe a bit worse.
HMart Asian Foods was somewhat better but the bare spots were where I was looking for my specialty items.
How's the supermarkets in your area?

 

[Onomea]

Around here, so far anyway, have not noticed any shortages. (Higher meat prices, yes.) I've seen the supermarket bare shelves on the TV news several times and it had seemed to me that the bare shelves were processed food. But, per your post, evidently fresh food as well, at least in some parts of the country.

 

[Kenna]

Our local Jewel-Osco is well stocked. There is probably a thousand reasons as to shortages.

 

[bigwheelzip]

No grocery shortage noticed lately at Costco, Publix, or Walmart here.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[arjay]

Seeing bare shelves at my local Safeway along with crowds! King Soopers (Krogers) has been on strike since last week and I'm sure that's part of it

 

[glenwolde]

Odd. I'm in DFW and haven't noticed much except for a specific item here and there.

 

[pawngal]

Odd. I'm in DFW and haven't noticed much except for a specific item here and there.

Same here in NW Iowa.
Meat prices are up somewhat but not as bad as other areas of the country. Close to the source!

 

[twodog max]

Not to much in the way of bare spots here with one exception we have not seen any crackers in almost a month.
Pricey meat here too. Glad we mostly eat venison except for chicken.

 

[llowry61]

We are seeing some bare spots, higher prices less options. Take your pick of the reasons why.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Giant Food is the 800-pound gorilla of grocery stores in my area, equivalent to HEB in Texas or Publix in Florida. They have their own warehouses, their own delivery trucks and drivers, etc...which is both a blessing and a curse.

Last week my local Giant was out of produce, dairy products, and a lot of meats. The employees explained that many of their truck drivers were in quarantine due to Covid. The smaller, independent stores were not in very bad shape.

I went back to Giant yesterday and things were close to normal...still some shortages but no really empty shelves.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

No grocery shortage noticed lately at Costco, Publix, or Walmart here.

Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

Publix and Wally World, The clothing stores, Napa ALL have had shortages(empty shelves) here for weeks......Tried buying any truck parts???
Its like living under communism.....Further discussion will get me banned.

 

[bigwheelzip]

.... The clothing stores, Napa ALL have had shortages(empty shelves) here for weeks......Tried buying any truck parts???

I'm not in the market for clothes and vehicle parts, but unlike the OP, supermarkets here are stocking what I buy.
Forgot, also stopped at Harris Teeter last week, and got all on my list, without seeing empty shelves.



Sent from my motorola one 5G using Tapatalk

 

[muddocktor]

My wife was commenting on the lack of some frozen foods at the Super 1, Walmart and Rouses today. Had plenty of meat and veggies and most canned and boxed stuff though.

 

[LVSteve]

When I was in Smith's last week (Kroger for those East of the Rockies) empty shelves were not the issue. Empty cashiers' seats was a far bigger problem.

 

[hsguy]

Except for an occasional item I haven't noticed any issues here. Seems business as usual.

 

[coltle6920]

Seeing bare shelves at my local Safeway along with crowds! King Soopers (Krogers) has been on strike since last week and I'm sure that's part of it

I do "pickup" shopping at Soopers and Safeway so unsure what I'll get with my current order. Started doing a pickup order at Soopers but was shown at checkout that I had to pick a satellite store to pick up my order.

I've been told that Soopers has nonunion stores (City Market?) It might be that it's easier to staff and stock a few stores rather than bother with all stores.

I feel I can wait it out no matter how long it takes. Freezer is loaded with chicken (wings,thighs and drumsticks) as well as ribeyes I scored before Xmas. Worse case scenario I've got a 24pk of Ramen soup tucked away. Can get beer and cigs at the local gas station. Paper towels and TP aren't an issue.

This has nothing to do with Covid...just a local strike.

edit. I should add that we have a local "Natural Grocers" and a "Sprouts" that seem to be decently stocked but who wants food that is healthy for you.

 

[31FordA]

Giant Food is the 800-pound gorilla of grocery stores in my area, equivalent to HEB in Texas or Publix in Florida. They have their own warehouses, their own delivery trucks and drivers, etc...which is both a blessing and a curse.

Last week my local Giant was out of produce, dairy products, and a lot of meats. The employees explained that many of their truck drivers were in quarantine due to Covid. The smaller, independent stores were not in very bad shape.

I went back to Giant yesterday and things were close to normal...still some shortages but no really empty shelves.

I'm in southeast PA. Giant has been the worst at maintaining inventory since this whole mess started in '20. I'm surprised when I can actually find what I'm looking for at Giant. Weis Markets have generally been pretty good on inventory, and my local independents haven't had too many shortages. Acme seemed pretty decent on the times I was in one, although they haven't had any Weavers Lebanon Bologna for a while now. Fortunately a small butcher near my office still has it.

 

[wood714]

I stopped at Walmart to get my mom her favorite stuff on the way to visit her at the Hospital.

They had mass big bags of M&Ms, chocolate chip cookies, Cheez It's and diet Coke.

 

[Chuck24]

Around here the bread and milk are all gone because the weatherman mentioned snow, even though it didn't. Don't know about the rest of it. However, the ABC store has been a little bare.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The begining of the year is a clean out the old stuff time.

Turkey & hams are done with............as well as squab or game hen.

The stores will be getting rid of old merchandise and restocking for the coming year.

I just came back from Raley's and their brand of 4 lb sugar was as hard as a rock, from being too old or bad handleing. It will probably be used in their pies & cakes, etc. but that is what happens at this time of the year.

At least we don't have a "Bad chicken" or spinach problem, for now.

 

[SMSgt]

Local Publix is short on Gatorade and such as well as coffee creamer. Other than that...

 

[Racer X]

Lots of holes on the shelf/coolers at QFC(Kroger) here in Seattle. I'll try Fred Meyer (Kroger big box) tomorrow. Been hit or miss since summer here.

 

[pittpa]

Local Publix is short on Gatorade and such as well as coffee creamer. Other than that...

Coincidentally my local giant eagle has no Gatorade zero or fat-free half-and-half and the fiber one cereal is in short supply.
If I go to shop 'n save they have all the Gatorade zero I want


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[pantannojack]

I'm finding sparse shelves where cat food used to be.

 

[Rpg]

No problem here at Whole Foods or Sprouts, but they are unusually crowded probably because of the King Soopers strike here in the Denver area.

Oddly enough, the King Soopers that houses my pharmacy has plenty of produce and no empty shelves. I wouldn't cross the picket line except to get my prescriptions.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

My most recent grocery run was last Tuesday. Empty shelves in the cereal and cracker aisles. Meat selections were minimal, lots of empty space in the coolers. Produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) looked pretty good, nice selection. Fresh milk, half & half, etc, about half stocked with lots of empty spaces. Flour, sugar, salt, baking staples in pretty good supply.

Next day Kroger (King Soopers) employees went out on strike. The grocery list is ready for my next trip, probably tomorrow, so I will see what it looks like then.

We usually have enough on hand (freezer, pantry, etc) to get us by for a month or so if necessary, but we enjoy a lot of fresh stuff and the empty shelves cause some concerns. Prices on what is available bring more concerns.

Many of the local fast food joints have shut down everything but the drive-thru option; apparently no one is showing up for work at $15-plus per hour.

Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel prices have nearly doubled since last year, but it doesn't seem to have any effect on traffic volume. Everyone still seems to be out and about, and driving like their lives depended on getting there really fast.

Interesting times.

 

[arjay]

My most recent grocery run was last Tuesday. Empty shelves in the cereal and cracker aisles. Meat selections were minimal, lots of empty space in the coolers. Produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) looked pretty good, nice selection. Fresh milk, half & half, etc, about half stocked with lots of empty spaces. Flour, sugar, salt, baking staples in pretty good supply.

Next day Kroger (King Soopers) employees went out on strike. The grocery list is ready for my next trip, probably tomorrow, so I will see what it looks like then.

We usually have enough on hand (freezer, pantry, etc) to get us by for a month or so if necessary, but we enjoy a lot of fresh stuff and the empty shelves cause some concerns. Prices on what is available bring more concerns.

Many of the local fast food joints have shut down everything but the drive-thru option; apparently no one is showing up for work at $15-plus per hour.

Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel prices have nearly doubled since last year, but it doesn't seem to have any effect on traffic volume. Everyone still seems to be out and about, and driving like their lives depended on getting there really fast.

Interesting times.

Aren't they though!

 

[Racer X]

I'm finding sparse shelves where cat food used to be.

There is a logic to that. With so many people home, and not drinking at the bar or at sporting events, aluminum is in short supply. Those venues serve kegged beer., and they get recycled easily So all the extra beverage cans vs fountain drinks and kegged beer have made it hard to get cans for wet cat food.

 

[arjay]

When I was in Smith's last week (Kroger for those East of the Rockies) empty shelves were not the issue. Empty cashiers' seats was a far bigger problem.

I've been seeing that at Safeway,especially on the weekends

 

[stuartg74]

This was at our Kroger last week, meat & chicken freezers were low. Had plenty of snack cakes, cookies & ice cream. Bags of cereal were almost gone.
Still walked out paying over $300.00, at least we had something to go with our coffee in the morning.

Sent from my SM-T387V using Tapatalk