When it comes to sanitizing products to keep your hands, your home, and your body coronavirus-free, it’s a mixed bag. Darin Peirce, vice president of Associated Food Stores, a cooperative of more than 400 grocery retailers, told WSJ that they’re creating “pandemic pallets” of cleaning and sanitizing products, to anticipate the demand. He said, “We will never again operate our business as unprepared for something like this.”
The Giant and Food Lion grocery chains are also stocking 10 percent to 15 percent more inventory of fast-selling goods, but some suppliers are still struggling. The inventory of Hormel Foods Corp., which sells among other products Skippy and Spam, is down 24 percent, and WSJ reports that General Mills is behind on producing Progresso soup, Betty Crocker cake mixes, and Pillsbury refrigerated dough.
According to CNN, Amazon and Costco are still facing paper towel shortages, thanks to consumers who panic buy and hoard products. Clorox is also having trouble meeting the demand for wipes and other items. Not much your grocer can do about that.
