Kroger CEO says there's plenty of food in the supply chain

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

If you ask Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen about the potential for food shortages amid the new coronavirus outbreak that's spreading across America, he'll tell you what he and other retail executives told President Trump on Sunday.

"We asked President Trump and Vice President Pence to let people know there's plenty of food and plenty of things in the supply chain," McMullen told The Enquirer. "And as long as customers just buy what they need and don't hoard, there will be no problems at all. There's plenty of food in the supply chain."

McMullen urges the public to remember that the grocery business deals in perishable goods and is set up to constantly ship and refill store shelves. Also, the company operates 37 of its own factories that produce everything from milk and dairy products to maple syrup and canned goods – all of those factories are working overtime and around the clock.

"Some stores get a delivery truck once a day, some every other day and some stores get multiple deliveries a day," McMullen said, admitting some vendors, like those making hand sanitizers, are still struggling to meet the high demand.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/kroger-ceo-says-theres-plenty-of-food-in-the-supply-chain/ar-BB11m4qN?li=BBnbfcN

Well you need to distribute that stuff better or people need to stop hoarding. my local Kroger affiliated store was short a few items today.

[Hoyt]

1. Had to pick someone up at large airport yesterday. Lots of trucks rolling. Thanks drivers.

[Freddie]

2. Just came back from Giant (Philly burbs)

Surprisingly normal. No TP and limited selection of meat and bread but otherwise pretty well stocked. Lots of produce, wonder if people are afraid of it. There was pasta, rice, even bottled water (I use distilled water in the Keurig). Still lots of pet food. No table napkins or Kleenex. Milk, eggs, cheese ok.

[lagomorph777]

26. Produce is scarce in Northern VA

[luvs2sing]

3. Our Kroger has a lot of empty shelves..

And a lot of people still hoarding everything. It’s a mess.

[True Blue American]

4. Meijer was Pretty empty, produce, meat case almost empty.

Last edited Wed Mar 18, 2020, 02:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Kroger produce freshly stocked, Case full of meat. Only bread and TP empty.

[Maeve]

6. Plan on giving it a few days to let the panic run its course

I was in our Kroger Monday evening and scored the last loaf of sliced rye bread in the store--SCORE!! We had planned on rueben sandwiches and forgot the rye; and that was in the bakery section--the regular bread was gone entirely. Also grabbed and extra corned beef for the future (might as well--line is long no matter how few things you buy)

[luvs2sing]

11. It has been a week now.

No sign of letting up in my little corner of the world. Husband said Michael’s parking lot was packed..all those moms and dads looking for craft projects for their kids, no doubt.

[Maeve]

12. Yeah it started here a bit over a week ago

Walmart still had toilet paper last Wednesday, but not much. By Thursday, it was gone. That's when I really started looking at how nuts people were getting. Having raised 4 kids, I always keep stocked up on essentials, even now they are on their own, so I'm not worried. And I do have a stash of candy set aside...if things get bad!

[luvs2sing]

15. Ha! Hubby stocked up on..

snacks for us. I planned for a month’s worth of meals, but no snacks. Silly me.

I don’t have a whole lot of storage space, but I usually have enough to tide us over for an extra week or two.

The most frustrating thing for me is the lack of storage in our house. We had planned to buy a chest freezer last week, after we got our tax refund, but a family emergency took precedence, and now we can’t find any.

[True Blue American]

19. The stores have calmed down now.

Still busy, but little panic like it was last Friday. That is causing the shortages.

I can remember another TP panic, coffee shortage, sugar. All soon ended

[Maeve]

22. That's what I'm hoping

The initial scare is the worst.

[beaglelover]

5. Went to our local Ralphs yesterday.......

No produce except for some fruits.
Bare shelves in the pasta, rice, pasta sauce aisles.
Bare shelves in the paper products aisle, no TP, Kleenex, paper towels, etc.
The entire refrigerated section where the deli items would be was empty.
The butchers department was shut down with no lights on and nothing in the display cases.
No honey or peanut butter.
No frozen vegetables or frozen dinners. No frozen pizzas, Nada.
There was some milk left, but not much and no Lactaid so I passed.

On the bright side, they did have plenty of snack items like crackers and potato chips and alcohol. Oh and they did have plenty of water too.

I then went to a much smaller local market that was well stocked last Friday. Yesterday, they had nothing left.

I then went to another Ralphs, but there was a line to get in so I gave up.

Last night I went online to see if I could order toilet paper from anywhere. No luck.

Not sure what we'll do next week if things don't improve. We will totally be out of TP by then.

I think we're being lied to about the supply chain.

[Mosby]

13. I have to agree

Stores are not getting completely restocked right now. The dist. Centers are rationing what is headed to stores, eg if a store was expecting 20 cases of something, they might get one, or none.

I think it might be a couple weeks before manufacturers can provide the needed items to the DCs. People also need to stop hoarding.

[rufus dog]

42. Where are you?

The Ralph’s in my neighborhood has been a mess. But yesterday got there at 8. Took me an hour to get in but they where stocking TP at the entrance. Limit of 2. Had paper towels. No wipes though.

[beaglelover]

45. This was the Ralphs at Ventura and Vineland in Studio City, CA.

Thanks for the tip about getting there when they open. I will try that.

[rufus dog]

46. Down in the OC it is getting better

I was actually in line at 7:45. About 150 people deep.

Generic TP but beats the alternative

[mathematic]

7. People will run out of closet space soon enough and the hoarding will end

I'm not worried. It's not like people are actually using more food and tp and I certainly haven't heard of disruptions to production.

[beaglelover]

8. I hope you are right.

[mathematic]

9. Me too! n/t

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Agreed

Hoarders have a year's worth of TP and disinfectant wipes. Things will even out as long as people don't get lax and let this thing really start roaring.

[bif]

14. A neighbor said people are hoarding water. I live in the Detroit area!

We are surrounded by the Great Lakes and Detroit has some of the purest tap water in the country! Are people turning into idiots? No need to answer that.

[Maeve]

16. You can remove "turning into" from your question

We are all bozos on this bus

[True Blue American]

23. I use my fridge filter

Simply for the taste. I still have a couple of gallons. The Fire Department was giving it away after the tornado. Water was only off one day. They also opened the Fire hydrants.

[StClone]

17. I work for Kroger (Metro Market) there MAYBE a catch.

Trump may be restricting Mexican veg pickers entry in to US leaving crops to rot in fields. I need to have this confirmed.

If growers, bread makers, dairies, truckers are struck by the C9, self-quarantine or otherwise hampered this may disrupt supply chain and cause local or larger disruptions/shortages.

[StClone]

48. Limits on Mexican worker into US may cause food shortage

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/18/trump-limits-guest-workers-mexico-amid-coronavirus-farmers-warn-labor-and-food

[lynintenn]

18. Our Kroger has limited supply of a lot of food items.

[Meadowoak]

20. Our Kroger (central KY) had to close for a few days, until they

Can get more deliveries. They had absolutely nothing to sell.

[CottonBear]

21. There's no bleach, 70% alcohol, TP, paper towels or Kleenex at Kroger, Publix or Aldi

in my neighborhood for almost a week.

Thus morning, a Kroger employee said they have no idea when more will be stocked.

I have 12 TP rolls for a family of 3 (2 men, 1 woman). We have 3 rolls of paper towels and 3/4 large pack of napkins. I think we’re going to use cloth napkins. As the only woman, I’m going to use cloth wipes in the bathroom. We used cloth diaper and cloth wipes, so I know the whole use rinsing and washing routine.

I’m thinking that some people may use TP in barter for other supplies, if things get worse.

[EarthFirst]

24. Locally it's gotten slightly better...

However there are still large gaps in items such as flour; sugar; rice; pasta; etc.

Paper goods & sanitizing items: forget about it.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

25. I'm more concerned with the increasing risk of venturing into public spaces to buy essentials. n/t

[Siwsan]

28. I wear gloves and have hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes in my car, for extra security

After I put stuff away, I wash my hands. Then I treat myself to a long, hot, soapy shower. Other than that, I guess I'm leaving myself to fate.

[Rorey]

29. Same here

I wore my mask this morning when I went to King Soopers (Kroger). The farther we get into this thing, the higher the risk, because more people will be infected. It's doubtful I'll be going to a store again for quite awhile.

[Siwsan]

27. Admittedly, I couldn't find flour, today, but there was toilet paper on the shelves

Friday I'll make a fast stop at Kroger for the digital coupon items. Planning on getting there as soon as they open. Hopefully that's my last grocery stop, for a while.

[Rorey]

30. I got to mine as soon as they opened

There was a line, but it went smoothly.

[Siwsan]

32. Shopping at Aldi, today, was a HUGE contrast with what I experienced on Friday

They are now limiting canned veg, along with milk, eggs, paper products but most shelves were adequately supplied. There was a sign on the door saying there were no eggs - my heart dropped because that was #1 on my list - but it was from yesterday and they hadn't taken it down, yet. Oh, and I noticed that the Ramen Noodle shelf was empty.

Best of all, they cut the price on their Winking Owl wine. So I bought more. I do enjoy my afternoon glass of vino.

[Rorey]

33. Wine - Thanks for the reminder

I think I'll hit the liquor store later.

I joked to my son that I thought as long as I'm stuck at home I might take up drinking. Seriously, I really don't drink, but do enjoy a glass of wine now and then, and a nice cold beer after I work in the yard when it's hot. Probably too soon to buy beer.

[Siwsan]

37. The one other thing that might lure me out is to buy a growler of Flint City Hard Cider

It's a new brewery, in Flint, and the cider is wonderful. They are filling growlers via a 'side door'.

Of course I could go to Tenacity Brewery, down the road. They are filling growlers AND the Flint City Tacos truck is parked right outside.

This really is becoming a fun city. Even in a pandemic.

[Rorey]

39. Does sound like fun. NT

[Rorey]

31. Our ad here says it's a four day sale, so check your ad

Here they start tomorrow.

[Siwsan]

34. Thanks! I hadn't noticed that!!

I'll stop there and THEN head to my accountant's to sign my tax forms. As soon as I get home, I'll start my seclusion.

[Rorey]

36. I already decided that I'm filing for an extension

I don't have my papers ready yet, and Pence said there wouldn't be a penalty this year for paying late. I'm sure my accountant would rather not have any more traffic through her office than necessary, and for all I know, she may not even be there.

[Siwsan]

38. Have they officially extended the filing date, yet?

I'm actually getting a nice refund this year. I kind of over withheld taxes on my SS payments, but that's ok.

[Rorey]

41. I haven't heard that they extended

I'll bet it's coming.

Good for you on getting a refund. I'm kind of afraid of how much I'll owe, but my accountant is a genius, so I'm hoping for the best.

[Cognitive_Resonance]

35. I've been doing a little Home Chef (meal kits) in recent months. Bit pricey but it's good food, and

it reduces the frequency of venturing out for groceries. It's Kroger owned.

[QED]

40. My Kroger (Fry's) was limiting a lot of items

Only one of milk, eggs, meat/chicken/fish, bread. The commercial bread shelves were nearly empty but the more artisan type were in plentiful, just pricier. The seafood/meat counter was closed but there were some items already packages in the cases.

Soup? very little left. Frozen snack stuff - pizza pockets, etc. - gone. A few pizzas in the cases.

I bought a couple cans of tuna - but there wasn't much left. And ice cream Plenty of ice cream in the freezer. Yay for that. Milk, some cheese. They had a lot of cheese.

Just surreal.

[Rorey]

43. Yeah, I wonder what's up with the prevalence of cheese

It keeps for quite awhile if it's not opened.

We had plenty of bread at mine. I'm vegetarian, so I don't buy meat, but thought about picking up some for my daughter. She said she was fine. She has a pickup order scheduled for Saturday, I think. We'll see how that goes.

The soup aisle wasn't bad, and there was plenty of milk. No eggs. No dried beans. And of course the tp was quickly taken. They announced every few minutes that the limit was one. I tried not to look smug as I DIDN'T rush to get some because I stocked up well over a month ago when there was no shortage.

It was encouraging to see that the shelves were looking more stocked.

[QED]

44. The shelves were more stocked than a couple days ago.

I was there about 10:30 and they opened at 6. If I had been there earlier, I'm sure the shelves would have been much fuller. I was waiting for the windshield repair guy.

The deli person told me there were 50 people waiting outside for the store to open. When I was there it wasn't crowded. And hey, Nestle chocolate chips were 99¢ a bag. I bake a lot so that was a plus.

[SlogginThroughIt]

47. LOL we are in day 3.

I should hope there are supplies. Here’s the thing people are now all eating at home. Whole families. Let’s see how stocked everything is in 3 weeks. Not trying to cause panic but you need to moderately start stocking up, and not wasting what you have.