Winning the battle: Some products still in short supply, but grocery shelves filling

Posted 4/2/20

Hit with a sledge hammer of demand almost overnight, local grocery stores are working around the clock to keep their shelves stocked with the COVID-19 pandemic overhanging community life. In Powell, …

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Winning the battle: Some products still in short supply, but grocery shelves filling

Posted

Hit with a sledge hammer of demand almost overnight, local grocery stores are working around the clock to keep their shelves stocked with the COVID-19 pandemic overhanging community life. In Powell, Blair’s Super Market and Mr. D’s Food Center feel they are slowly winning the battle.

The run on toilet paper, disinfectants and sanitizers has been well documented and persists. Other products also remain in short supply —  flour, yeast, pasta, rice and eggs to name a few, said Kyle Foulger, store director at Blair’s. The products are difficult to obtain in any kind of quantity, Foulger added.

However, “our in-store position is improving every day. While we aren’t back to where we would like to be or where we typically are, we are making up ground little by little,” he said. “This wouldn’t be possible without the support and understanding of the community.”

“As we look back at what has taken place, nothing seems to be a surprise when you see it in the rear view mirror,” Foulger said. “The natural progression in what shoppers are buying has transitioned from normal shopping patterns to more of a worried shopping, and trying their best to keep the cupboards full to feed the family. It has now become a hunt for the items that are in highest demand and trying to get those items before they sell out again.”

At Mr. D’s, a relationship with multiple suppliers has allowed the store to maintain food on the shelves and even toilet paper, said Kami Scott, store manager.

“With each truck that delivers to the dock door, our shelves are being replenished. This week we will receive a staggering amount of product,” she said.

“We began trying to help with the overwhelming demand for some products by putting quantity limits on certain items,” Scott added. “With the help of our supplier, we have since been able to lift some of those restrictions.”

Mr. D’s has made the decision not to adjust store hours, maintaining open hours of 7 a.m.  to 10 p.m.

“We do this to spread out the time open so shoppers can spread out the times they come in,” Scott said.

Blair’s Super Market has initiated item limits of two per household on most items and a limit of one on some the hardest hit products.

“We have been able to remove the limits on some sections such as milk, fresh meat, soda products and bread,” Foulger said. “Our goal is to have more and more items coming off the restrictions in the next few days.”

Blair’s has trimmed business hours to allow staff adequate time for restocking and cleaning, “as well as making sure they get the rest they need to stay healthy and be able to continue to work,” Foulger noted. Blair’s is open 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Mr. D’s has added home grocery delivery services five days a week (Monday to Friday) and curbside pick-up seven days a week.

“This has been a great success,” Scott said. “We feel it has helped our at-risk community members stay safe and protected.”

The entire grocery supply chain was not prepared for the volume demand that hit suddenly, Foulger said.

“Suppliers have taken measures similar to what we have at the retail level were forced to allocate product to all stores in order to make sure they could continue to service us and hundreds other retailers across a multi-state area,” he explained. “Our deliveries are back to being on time after a week or two of running late due to the stresses that were placed on the supply chain.”

Foulger had praise for his store suppliers and said their response offers reassurance to the public.

”While there is no protocol for how to handle the type of situation that has been experienced, we feel our suppliers have handled it as well as possible,” said the Blair’s manager. “They are working day and night to keep up with what stores are ordering, and they understand this has been an unprecedented time for everyone.”

Associated Wholesale Grocers is principal supplier for Mr. D’s, and Scott said the wholesaler “has been wonderful in getting our trucks and product on time.”

“It is the goal of Mr. D’s to keep our community fed and safe,” Scott added. “We have been in contact with the health department and will continue to follow the guidelines set for Park County and our beautiful state. This situation changes daily and the guidelines change daily.”

“I am grateful for all of my employees who have done their best to accommodate the store in this time, committing to early mornings and late evenings,” Scott said.

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