After 16 years at Green’s, kinks in the supply chain aren’t a phenomena for Flanagan. When issues arise, Green’s looks to scratch-made items as sub-ins for those that are harder to secure.
“We try our best to not tell our customers, ‘No,’” Flanagan said.
The lines of communication are “always open” with Green’s distributors as well as its staff, according to Flanagan, enabling the store to “stay ahead” of any gaps in the supply chain.
According to Ingles Markets Inc. chief financial officer Ron Freeman, Ingles is also in good shape.
“A lot of planning goes into making sure we have the products our customers want for Thanksgiving and that we are adequately staffed to handle the extra shopping,” Freeman said. “That has been more difficult this year, without a doubt.”
Ian Black, assistant manager of Publix on Thompson Bridge Road, said that “everything is working smoothly” companywide and, to his knowledge, none of the stores have reported any issues.
According to Black, Publix has not yet announced whether purchasing limits will be placed on holiday items; he anticipates that, if implemented, they will likely mirror last year’s limitations, which were two turkeys and eight to 10 cranberry sauces per customer.
As for Kroger, Thompson Bridge Road store manager Billy Skaggs said no holiday shortages are projected at this time. As the holidays inch continuously closer, customers will be limited to the amount of turkey and ham they’ll be able to purchase during a given shopping trip, but that’s nothing out of the ordinary, Skaggs said.
At Kroger Marketplace on Jesse Jewell Parkway, store manager Jared Palmer said everything in-house is on the shelves and ready to go. Bare, blue-tagged shelves will indicate items are out of stock due to warehouse issues, he noted, adding that such issues don’t seem to be happening with Thanksgiving staples just yet.
