Mountain People’s Co-Op on Pleasant Street was closed Tuesday because manager Dana Hantel needed time to check on supplies, reach out to local food venders and place orders for extra food items like oats.
In the days since the novel coronavirus was declared a national and state emergency. Hantel said business has probably doubled. But there have not been a lot of new customers, just regulars stocking up on items, she said.
“It’s been mostly staples,” said Hantel, adding she thinks much of the buying taking place is fear based.
Many grocery stores and those that regularly carry paper products, have limited supplies of things like antiseptic wipes, bread and some meats. And most don’t have one roll of toilet paper.
Despite many West Virginians staying at home or working from home because of fears of the novel coronavirus, the national, state and local food chain is holding up well, said people in the food supply business.
“But, people are going into stores and buying a six-month supply of something,” said Traci Nelson, president of the West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association, an organization that represents independent grocery stores across the state. “You don’t need 24 packs of toilet paper.
“The food supply is strong, but suppliers are getting slammed.”
At the Kroger at Suncrest Towne Centre Monday afternoon, there was no toilet paper, antiseptic wipes or meat products. The only available parking space to be found in the store lot was either in the last, or next-to-last aisle.
Also, the nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, which used to be open 24 hours a day, have cut hours to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. to give employees time to clean and restock shelves each morning.
Nelson said if a person sees something that is in limited supply, then he will stock up on that item regardless if it is needed or not.
“We need to think of our neighbors,” Nelson said.
Target, which has a store at University Towne Centre, is limiting the number of hand sanitizer, toilet paper, bottled water, and disinfectant wipes that can be purchased at one time.
“We’ll continue to make adjustments to limits as needed, and would ask all guests to consider their immediate needs, understanding that many shoppers are hoping to stock up on the same items,” Target CEO Brian Cornell said in a statement.
Kroger has been limiting the number of cold, flu and sanitary products since March 2, the company said.
“We activated our preparedness plan several weeks ago and we continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation,” Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen said on the company website. “We’re following guidance from federal, state and local agencies, including the CDC and other health organizations.”
Giant Eagle also reduced its hours. Stores open at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. All GetGos adjacent to supermarkets will have the same hours, while standalone GetGos will remain open 24 hours.
John Saldonha, a global supply chain expert with the John Chambers College of Business at West Virginia University, said what is taking place is the bullwhip effect, a phenomenon that refers to increasing swings in inventory in response to shifts in customer demand as one moves further up the supply chain.
“When people are under pressure, they make rash decisions,” he said.
Saldonha said this temporary shutdown in the U.S. may lead to a lag time for the availability of bigger ticket items, such as appliances, which use parts made in China, as well as back-to-school items and paper holiday decorations, many of which are also made in China.
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