Went to the foodstore. Kroger. Missing Items.

[Newest Reality]

I went to a Kroger in Central Virginia today.

There were many empty spots on the shelves here and there. It was very noticeable. Beans and rice, for instance. There were also low amounts of many other items.

Meat seems to be somewhat okay for now, but less than usual.

I assume that this is a combination of stocking up and supply issues.

Anybody else seeing this in their area now?

[hlthe2b]

1. I placed an order for pick up at Kroger-owned King Sooper. All regular staple items number 16 total

The order went through and I was to pick up at 7 pm this evening. An hour ago I got a phone call.

Out of 16 items ordered, they were able to fulfill exactly ZERO.

[caraher]

3. Similar for me on Sunday night

Fred Meyer - another Kroger chain. I forget how many items were in the order, but they filled about half. Missing were olive oil and milk. But I also didn't want substitutions on those (especially the olive oil, given how much of it is fake).

[Newest Reality]

6. Thanks for your report and sorry about that...

Wow. Thanks because I wanted to find out if this is in more than one place.

Ru-oh!

[cwydro]

35. I usually order pickup at Walmart.

They’ve filled every order, and they substitute for items if you allow it. That usually works out for the customer’s benefit.

If you have a Walmart nearby, I recommend it. Last order, I got paper towels, cat food, sparkling water, pork ribs, chicken thighs, baking soda, canned corn, frozen fruit and veggies of various varieties, lemons, grapefruits, cucumbers, tea, coffee...I think they do a great job.

[eleny]

36. Oh, no

I picked up at 11 this morning at the Lakewood, Colfax & Quail, Soopers. They didn't have two items that we could do without. But they got me a gallon of bleach. It's supposed to be in-store only. I asked the person you call when you get to the parking lot. She said it's only temporary because it's an item that flies off the shelves. But she would go look to see if there's any and she got me a gallon of the Home Sense. I haven't had laundry bleach for over a month.

I've been trying to get a bottle of Trop50 orange juice for a month, too. Today I finally got some.

After my very first pick up order I had some questions and spoke with a woman from local corporate. She told me that it's hit and miss for stock because stores don't have regular delivery days now. Even the time of the day when they get a delivery is an unknown. So it could have been that today we got so much and you didn't.

And Tuesdays could be iffy because it's the last day of the weekly sales ad. So I'm going to rethink that. Next time I might make it a Wednesday when they may at least try to stock the stores with the flyer ad products. 11 a.m. seems to be a decent time to pick up an order, too. I was the only one there. The guy who brought out my order said that they've been getting slammed with pick up orders. But 10 or 11 a.m. seems to be good since I was the only one there for our last two orders.

I know that this doesn't help you today and you don't live way out here in the west area. But maybe there's a tip or two that will help next time. I think especially picking a day when the choice of days and times is wide open. And not so late in the day after the shoppers picked the store clean. If that's possible.

Take care and better luck next time you shop. Please share any tips you learn. I sure can use any strategies

[hlthe2b]

42. Your experience is more reassuring. I really had thought they wouldn't confirm orders for items

that were that low in inventory so when my order went through I thought most of it would come through. Admittedly I did not allow for substitutions because, well I am very picky about "NO sugar-added" for lots of things like peanut butter, ketchup, and even pickle relish for my tuna salad. I have since found some of my items available from online retailers including vitamin or nutritional websites that I have shopped in years past and a couple of items from walmart.com.

As you say, it appears to be hit or miss right now.

[eleny]

47. You buy the "no-sugar" added?

So do we. Just in case you do - I found that Walmart carries Smuckers peach jam with no sugar added. Never saw that at any Soopers. And Walmart had 2-5lb bags of King Arthur flour one day so I jumped to add that to my cart. I found enough of our usual groceries that day to make it free shipping. So it's worth it to shop anywhere even though we rarely step foot in a Walmart. These days everything has changed. I even found paper towels there and put a package in that list.

I forget if you eat meat. But another just in case. I just called in an order to Edward's Meats on 44th near Youngfield. It'll be ready in a week. Last time I called in an order they gave me a date a week out to call and only place an order. They carry Red Bird chickens and also sell some fish. It's far from you. But I-70 to Youngfield, south to 44th and make a left. The store is a block or two east and on the right. Very straightforward. Also, there's Heinie's Market down the street. They carry lots of local fruits and veggies in season. Curbside service is now available. In summer they bag up lots of veggies to create markdown sacks. I've gotten so many sweet peppers on the cheap that I freeze and tomatoes in small baskets for 2 bucks including heirlooms. So the area could be a one stop shop with the two stores only blocks apart. Heinie's is just past the big truck stop there at Youngfield and on the north side of 44th.

Take care and thanks for the tip about shopping at nutritional websites! Speaking of that there's a Vitamin Cottage at Kipling and I-70 on the east side of Kipling. Lots to get in one part of town.

[hlthe2b]

50. I do eat meat, though rarely right now. Good to know about Heinie's Market. I do know the area

and will check it out. I'd really like to have some meat to freeze for stews, soups, and bean dishes. I haven't even waded into the meat areas of the grocery stores right now... That seems to be where people "bottle up."

BTW, as for no-sugar-added, low carb, and similar foods. Netrition.com ( https://netrition.com/ ) has a good selection and the order I placed went right though and they already shipped. They have flat rate shipping $6.99 now up to $99.00 and free if you spend above that. My go-to has always been vitacost.com for most things, but their popularity must be catching up with them since many of the things I used to buy from them are not in stock. And, yes, walmart.com with free shipping above $35 is a really good deal and thus far they have come through on quite a few things.

I find it fascinating that so many are demanding to "SHOP" and "DINE OUT" and the like. I find even going to the grocery store once a week a real chore and I'm quite accustomed to wearing masks and gloves. I can't imagine what it is going to be like in July and August. sigh...

[Mike 03]

2. Yes, canned beans have been in short supply here.

Kidney beans, garbanzo beans were hard to get when I last checked, but that was a few weeks ago.

My mom is still having trouble getting eggs but she said in general things looked better than they looked a month ago, but the toilet paper is still flying out the door.

[caraher]

5. Weirdly, we have canned beans but not dry.

I've heard the opposite, like your experience, as well

[shanti]

16. Same here

Even the 99 cent store had no dried beans, but they had plenty of dried pasta.

[Codeine]

24. Canned beans were in abundance today

at my Ralph’s (a Kroger chain in California). Paper products and packaged soups are the main shelf holes.

The company I work for moved so much production capacity to water that we fell behind on carbonated soft drinks, so lots of our soda flavors are out regionally, perhaps even nationwide.

[StarryNite]

4. Same thing here at our Fry's/Kroger.

Still a lot of empty shelves.

[Me.]

7. Paper Products

dishwashing soap, chlorox wipes

[Blue_true]

8. Paper products still are problematic. nt

[tanyev]

9. I managed to score tp, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer at Kroger Sunday morning!

I’ve gotten in the habit of checking for them every visit with no success, but this time I kept doing double takes. Whaa? Is that really there?

[dewsgirl]

21. I did too last weekend, wipes and tp, felt like I'd hit the lottery.

[eleny]

37. Congrats on your score!

[FloridaBlues]

10. Rice and beans have been empty for weeks here along with TP!!

Hope to find some chicken and beef tomorrow before prices go way up.

[Paper Roses]

11. Mass. reporting in: Shopping Sunday was a disaster!

Sunday was the first day I have gone to the grocery store in 6 weeks. I have been fortunate that my daughter has picked up a few things for me each Wednesday. 3 or 4 items, could not ask for more. She will not accept any $ and has struck out on a few of the items I needed.. I can only ask so much.

I was out of too much and had to hit the market Sunday.
Disaster.
Stop&Shop near me: No chicken, hardly any meat, no paper goods at all, not even paper napkins!. No wipes or disinfectants.
Frozen foods almost wiped out of anything I would buy. Produce was awful. No lettuce except iceberg, no green beans. Other empty bins. Some things I understand but green beans?

Perhaps I should not have gone during senior hours. Don't know if it was any better later in the day.

Since I am a Senior with other health issues, I am very vulnerable, I'm at home and am eating things I would never buy otherwise. I think that will be that case for a while..actually, a long while.

Keep safe everyone, I hope you can find what you need at the store. Sad here!

[Newest Reality]

14. Thank you.

I am sorry that it has been that bad there, but thanks for reporting.

I hope you can get what you need, at least.

Stay safe!

[Codeine]

27. Produce has bounced back in California.

Salad greens were hit especially hard for the first few weeks, but they seem back to normal. Pricing is standard but no sale prices whatsoever.

[csziggy]

33. I suspect weekends are the worst times to go to the store

Their supply trucks probably come in during the week. I know the first week things started running out, just as I was leaving the empty milk coolers, a manager came out of the back of the store and started rounding up stockers to unload a milk truck. That was on a Tuesday.

When things are normal, my favorite time to shop is early on Wednesdays because the stores were mostly empty. The last two times I have shopped have been on Mondays after lunch time and the stores were reasonably well stocked, with some empty spaces.

Before things got really tight, my husband and I stocked up on beef, chicken (though only chicken leg quarters, no breasts), pork (bought a pork loin and cut it into two roasts and a bunch of large chops), and fish as well as frozen vegetables. I plan to stretch the meat so rather than cooking a chop each, I will probably slice up a chop for stir fry - more vegetables with a little meat and some rice. I'll do the same for most other protein sources to make them last.

We're probably good for two or three months, other than fresh stuff like salad, bread (since my recent efforts have not turned out good), and milk.

[Baked Potato]

12. Scored some Charmin yesterday at WM, first found in a month.

Couldn’t find 15 bean soup for couple weeks.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

13. Kroger pick-up order from yesterday...

Of the 48 items, they had everything that I ordered except beans and alcohol wipes (which I was surprised to see listed as available when I made the order).

Made my own hand sanitizer from rubbing alcohol and aloe anyway (put it inside an old soft soap dispenser), so I didn't really need the wipes. Or the beans for that matter.

No idea how the shelves looked inside, obviously. From my car, I saw almost no other customers wearing masks just like a couple weeks ago.

[meadowlander]

15. The only thing I really haven't been able to get for months is yeast.

For a long time there was no flour but now you can get it in small bags.

I've still got enough yeast for 4-5 loaves. If I can't get any in the next month or so I'm going to have to use the last bits for a sponge and then try too keep it alive until I can get the dried stuff again.

The price of meat has gone up a lot but every week there's at least one thing that is "normal" price so it's just a question of being flexible.

[Mariana]

23. You can make a sourdough starter from flour and water. nt.

[meadowlander]

41. Yeah, but I live alone and don't eat that much bread.

The problem with a sourdough starter is you have to keep feeding it and make bread with it all the time. I only do 2-3 loaves a month so it's a lot more convenient to just have dry yeast for when I actually need it.

Also the main reason I make bread is because I can't get some of the more bespoke kinds like rye and spelt bread here and I'm not sure that sourdough starter would taste the same with some of those combinations. Or that sourdough makes good pizza crust or Belgian waffles...

Anyway, may have to experiment if it comes to that.

[maryellen99]

40. I found yeast 2 weeks ago when I went shopping here in MI nt

[cally]

45. Found yeast at Trader Joe's this week

I had to buy a pound but it was around $4. Saw same thing on Amazon for $20. I’ve found everything except Clorox wipes but I don’t need those. I’m mostly vegetarian and I have a supply of beans so I’m great.

[Alex4Martinez]

17. Target, mid-March. No paper goods, no pasta, still that way.

Paper goods have been making a limited comeback as stores have taken up rationing as a policy.

In California we started hoarding early but also had our Governor set rules early, while Trump was still in denial.

I've seen eggs missing, and a shortage of frozen pork sausage, plenty of turkey though, and no shortage of meat or seafood.

[GoCubsGo]

18. I have noticed this kind of thing varies from chain to chain.

Been that way for a while at the Kroger here in my South Carolina town. I can still find these items at other grocery chains like Aldi and Bi-Lo, though. Even in those stores, some brands of beans, white rice, pasta, etc., might be sold out, but others are in decent supply.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

19. If supplies get extremely low near me...

... close to the intersection of two of the biggest interstates in the whole country, then I'll know the whole country is fucked.

Seems like supplies aren't too bad around here. I even found toilet paper back when it was supposedly impossible.

[cwydro]

20. No problem in NC.

Red county. Everyone working in the store wearing masks.

Most customers wearing masks. Associates wipe down each cart for each customer.

Plenty of meat, pasta, produce, everything I went in for. Bought a small cake for a friend of mine who has a sweet tooth.

America isn’t going to starve anytime soon.

[EllieBC]

22. Hit or miss and with buying limits here.

Of course this necessitates multiple trips per week. Meat prices up but I anticipated that and have been steadily building a meat reserve.

[Wellstone ruled]

25. Folks,if you like Barrilla

Pasta,well there is a limited amount available. Why,Barrilla has a Durham Wheat Contract with a Canadian Flour mill and you guessed it,Our Dipstick President slapped a Tariff on it. So until Durham Flour Supplies return to a normal,get use to not seeing a ton of Barrilla pasta.

[Newest Reality]

28. Thanks for your report.

That is some useful information.

I have been hearing about how certain tariffs, (people's tax) are affecting the system in this crisis. They should have been immediately rescinded to facilitate trade and supplies. I don't even see what benefit, other than the sub rosa tax we pay, has had.

[MissB]

31. Good to know.

I got two orders from amazon of barilla pasta- cut spaghetti and mini bow ties. Because they were from amazon, I got like 12-16 boxes of each because that’s what they were selling.

[Wellstone ruled]

32. Just noticed Amazon is Out of Stock until May 22.

[MissB]

39. Right.

One of mine had like a week delay but it still shipped.

[cwydro]

34. Pasta is pasta to me.

Especially in a pandemic.

I’ve got Barilla in my pantry, Mueller, store brands. Some fancy brands I bought on a whim. Doubt I’d know the difference in a blind taste test if cooked well.

Don’t think I’ve met a pasta I didn’t like.

[LeftInTX]

26. I thought I placed an order at HEB and was ready to pick it up tonite

And realized that I apparently had not checked out. Argghhhhh!!!! I thought I had. It's so weird.

Now I can't get my groceries until Friday.

Hubby is getting a few things for me right now.

[Brother Buzz]

29. Flour was a touch and go item until the genius bakery department stepped up and solved the problem

They simply started weighing up bags of flour from their industrial sized sacks, which are NOT in short supply. Simple, no?

[Newest Reality]

30. That's resourceful. We need more of that thinking. Adaptability! Thanks.

[hunter]

44. That's what our grocery store did.

They are selling yeast that way as well.

[bottomofthehill]

38. Giant, Northern Virginia

NO
Flower
Vanilla
Clorox
Paper towels
Lysol type products (wipes or sprays)
Same with Clorox Wipes
Hamburger
Steak
Pork

Very Little
Chicken (expensive)
Toilet paper
cleaning supplies
beans
rice
frozen fruit
frozen vegetables
pasta


On the bright side
Fresh fruit
fresh vegetables
eggs
bacon
bread

[Vinca]

43. I've found the best time to shop is early in the morning early in the week.

Flour seems to be the latest thing people are hoarding. Not a package to be found. Canned beans of all kinds are scarce. Rice and pasta are limited. The past couple of weeks there has been house brand toilet paper and paper towels have reappeared. Still no disinfectant wipes, bleach or alcohol. They did have a shelf filled with hand sanitizer for 99 cents which was good. They have limits on how much you can buy when it comes to certain things. On the plus side, the fresh fruit and produce has been excellent and there are plenty of choices in the meat department. There's a reliable supply of Atlantic salmon since the chain I buy at is based in Maine. Overall, it's a whole lot better than it was a few weeks ago. Cat food is back!

[eleny]

48. Pepcid is another vanishing product due to the virus

About a week or so ago it was mentioned that somehow it figured in as a possible treatment. And then it disappeared off the shelves around here.

[PA Democrat]

46. My personal experience is that pickup times earlier in the day

are best. When I have done a late afternoon or early evening time slot, I have had a much higher percentage of sold out items and substitutions.

I think it has to do with the fact that a lot of stores are stocking mostly overnight to help with social distancing during hours the stores are open.

[spinbaby]

49. That's my experience as well

I’ve been up really early on Tuesdays to get that first pickup slot Monday morning. The only thing missing last order was my glucose test strips, which seem to generally be in short supply.

[frazzled]

51. Here's my take

If you’re ordering for delivery or pickup, someone else is doing your shopping. In recent weeks (well since mid to late March) a lot of these shoppers are newbies—people who have been laid off and looking for new work. Some are not familiar with the store and its products and layout. Some are unfamiliar with grocery shopping altogether (beware the new male shopper, sadly; but some of them are clueless as to what these food items even are). You have to be pretty flexible with your options. Some shoppers will text to see if a replacement is ok; others will simply refund if the precise brand or version on your order is not found.

In other words, your shopping experience will vary greatly depending on the shopper you get.

Shopping yourself is a bit more successful, though traumatic. Still there are some items unavailable. My husband goes out around every 10 days or so. Difficult items have been his favorite oatmeal (McCann’s), flour ( finally scored a 5-pound bag of King Arthur!), cleaning products, paper napkins, and of course the nonexistent Clorox or Lysol wipes. We’ve had pretty good luck with fresh vegetables, meats, fruits. Had to substitute basmati for long grain rice, but I love basmati. One drawback of sending your husband: I’d put scallions on the list, needed for a specific recipe. When it came time to make the dish I couldn’t find them. Did you get the scallions? I asked. Of course I did, he replied, and ran to show me them. These are shallots, I said. He hit his head and said, “Oh, you meant green onions! I wasn’t thinking and tried to get out fast.” Got a good laugh.

Our other worst pick-up order flub was from a small grocer that deals only in local foods, and has a great butcher. We decided to treat ourselves and include a $19 per pound ribeye steak. We didn’t notice until we got back that they had substituted, without asking us, a $39 per pound dry aged ribeye. We didn’t notice until we got home. It was not worth it!

Just go with the flow, be flexible, and try to laugh off the mistakes and missing items.

[LeftInTX]

53. My worst flub happened this Sunday

I placed on order for curbside for last night.

I kept checking my order online. It looked fine and I added a few things to it.

But around 7 pm, I noticed I hadn't received a text from them. Then I checked my email and nada. Apparently, I had not hit the "Checkout" button.

So, my groceries will now be ready on Friday. Fortunately, we have enough stuff to hold us over.

[Newest Reality]

52. Thanks to everyone!

My thanks to everyone for reporting in on their supply situation.

Feel free to add more. I have found this informative and relevant.