Can’t find enough Purina for Milo?

Missing those electrolytes from sports drinks to stay hydrated?

Hungry for beef, but finding it ever increasingly pricier by the pound?

While perhaps not to the same degree as when the pandemic first broke, local retail stores are finding it difficult to keep their shelves fully stocked.

Through a combination of packaging, trucking or labor issues, it’s becoming increasingly more evident certain products aren’t as readily available as they were as recently as a few short weeks ago.

Contributing factors

Chris Anthony, manager of Country Harvest Family Market in Palmerton, said there are still supply problems with certain products due to packaging.

Anthony said an example is any drinks that are made in pouches, which he added have been out for two months.

“That whole section of the store is empty, and because that’s emptied, the box stuff is empty now because the demands for individual servings of juices for kids to drink in school, the demand is still there but half the market is gone because they don’t have the pouches,” Anthony said. “Gatorade continues to be a problem; from what I understand, that’s packaging as well.”

Anthony added there are shortages in various areas of the store.

“Cleaning supplies continue to be a problem,” he said. “We’re starting to see some shortages in (items) like apple sauce (more of a seasonal thing), cat food, pet food in cans; a lot of those shortages are related to packaging.”

However, Anthony said the store really hasn’t seen shortages as far as paper towels or toilet paper.

Yet.

“But, they’re anticipating within the next month, our suppliers are telling us there is going to be a shortage,” he said. “Paper plates, napkins are in short supply and will continue to be; not sure what the driving force is there other than maybe some of those products are made overseas. It seems like anything that’s linked to being manufactured overseas, or has a component in it that is made overseas, seems to be where there’s supply issues.”

Bring on the bacon

Fortunately, Mikey won’t have any trouble locating his Life cereal, as Anthony said breakfast cereal really isn’t an issue.

Unfortunately, some fresh meat is, Anthony said.

“Hot dogs is a problem, bacon is a problem, both of them are in short supply; most of that is related to labor,” he said. “Fresh beef is starting to get tight as far as supply goes, chicken is OK yet, just pricing is going up (related to feed), beef pricing is going to go up dramatically. Anything that requires labor in the meat area is going to be in short supply.”

Anthony said bottled water is in shorter supply, as they only have two different varieties right now.

“Most of that is related to Hurricane Ida. When that hurricane came through, they needed bottled water,” he said. “They drew bottled water from the East Coast and West Coast areas that weren’t affected by that need.”

Chris Kinsley Sr., owner of ShopRite of Brodheadsville, said it’s more of a labor issue than food shortage at his store.

“Some juice shortages (plastic bottles and cans),” Kinsley said. “Turkeys are supposed to be tight this year, paper towels and toilet paper, being told there’s plenty in the system, but it’s a trucking issue.”

Kinsley said it really comes down to labor issues, noting cashiers and deli are very short, and the trucking industry is really short.

“It’s a supply shortage more than it is product; we’re lucky if we get enough deliveries a week that we get product,” he said. “It’s more of a labor issue.”

That, plus the fact many people who were receiving unemployment chose not to work, according to Pat Hartman, store manager at the Jim Thorpe Market in Jim Thorpe.

“Nobody wants to work,” Hartman said. “The government was paying for everything.”

Hartman said the store has dealt with a food shortage from the time the pandemic began.

“Ever since COVID started,” she said. “Some of the meats we can’t get in, we can only get (all things) certain brands; I know there’s certain frozen items we can’t get in either.”

It’s similar at Giant, according to Ashley Flower, manager, public relations, the GIANT Company.

“Our supplier and manufacturing partners have advised us of supply, production, and or sourcing challenges they are facing, which impacts what is available in our stores (and others) for purchase,” Flower said.

Avoid panic buying

Anthony cautioned that “the food supply chain is very fragile.”

“The worst thing you can do is panic buy; I know it’s instinct,” he said. “The food supply’s literally teetering on failure, I believe. I honestly believe that. I hope it doesn’t happen.”

If customers can’t find a particular product, no need to worry, Anthony assured.

“Get what you need, and we’ll do the best we can to continue to resupply and get the things that you need for the next time you come in the store,” he said.

Kinsley also encouraged customers to be patient.

“Most people have been very patient and understanding,” he said. “We’re trying our best; it’s much better than it was (early in the pandemic).”

Kinsley offered advice to shoppers.

“If we don’t have it one day, hopefully we’ll have it the next day,” he said. “Just be patient, and if you shop once or twice a week, hopefully the next time it will be here.”

Hartman echoed those sentiments.

“If a customer would like something and it’s not in stock, we do try to order it,” she said. “And we’ll get their phone number, calling them, telling them if we have it or if we don’t.”

However, Flower cautioned customers not to get discouraged.

“We continue to remain in close contact with our suppliers and are working to bring in alternate products, but it is possible customers may find a particular brand or variety is unavailable due to the these challenges,” she said.