Even if you keep super up-to-date on supermarket news, it can be hard to stay on top of the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the grocery store supply chain. While we are not running to stores for toilet paper anymore, it still seems that there are some longer-term effects on grocery stores caused by Covid.
If you have been wondering what those effects are, or you have noticed that the grocery store supply chain still seems to be “off,” but can’t quite put your finger on why, consider these ways that Covid may still be affecting grocery stores:
Labor Shortages
When you think of the supply chain, you may think of products or lack of products (due to decreased supply or increased demand, such as the toilet paper shortage at the beginning of Covid). However, people are also an important part of the supply chain, since they have to actually move the products and coordinate the movement of products.
So one way that Covid is still having a lingering effect on the grocery supply chain is through labor shortages. Even if there is enough product, there may not be enough people working to get those products into stores and on the shelves, whether that means not enough people driving trucks or not enough people to stock the shelves in the grocery stores. This will really depend on your area as well as employment rates in your area.
Shipping Challenges
Another effect that Covid is still having on the grocery supply chain is challenges related to shipping, including shipping delays. Covid has had an impact on the global supply chain, and with our global economy, even a slight disruption to the supply chain at an international level can have ripple effects like bottlenecks that can delay shipping.
Delays in shipping can lead to products, such as fresh produce, spoiling, which can therefore affect what shoppers see in stores. Some specific products may also be difficult to source, which can lead to not carrying certain products. While there has been some improvement when it comes to shipping delays, you can still see the lingering effects of Covid here when it comes to the grocery supply chain.
Demand
The economy, and especially retail stores, including grocery stores, are all based on supply and demand, and this is where Covid has had an effect on the grocery supply chain. One major effect of Covid is the number of people who are now working from home full-time or even part-time.
This increase in time spent at home has increased cooking at home, which has in turn increased the demand for groceries. This increase in demand is still present and can put a strain on the supply chain, which can lead to shortages of popular products like meat, dairy, and bread products.
As you can see, there are still some effects of Covid on the grocery supply chain, including labor shortages, shipping challenges, and increased demand.
