Wisconsin grocery stores have been facing supply shortages this summer. Brandon Scholz, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, said due to being more removed from the pandemic, there is an overwhelming demand from customers that the supply cannot keep up with.
Shopping trends are also changing, Scholz said. In 2020, consumers were purchasing a week’s worth of groceries. Now, customers are going to the grocery stores more often and may not buy all at one time, he said. Big gatherings, especially during Fourth of July festivities, created more of an impact on the supply chain. Grocery stores saw more empty shelves and foot traffic, similar to 2019. The supply shortage is expected to continue for the remainder of summer, Scholz said.
Of course, the cost of operating a business has increased. Both grocery stores and suppliers are finding challenges in retaining and finding a talented workforce. With higher prices continuing to be the norm for a while, Scholz says customers have grown into smarter shoppers due to the pandemic.
Source: eu.wisfarmer.com