Grocers, Shoppers Having Issues With Supply And Demand

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

February 9, 2022

As many consumers across the country voice concerns with supply chain issues preventing or slowing their favorite products coming to local stores, shoppers in New Britain and Bristol said they have been able to mostly find the products they desire, however, they might have to hunt around a bit.

Outside the New Britain Stop & Shop on Corbin Avenue, Karen Boncek said she was able to find nearly all the items she needed on her shopping list.

“I didn’t need a lot today, but what I did, they had, except for a small bag of carrots,” she said. “They had big huge bags, but hey, that’s fine. I’m finding the basic items that I need are there. If they don’t have it, you can go without.”

Richard Puskarz said some shelves he was seeing in stores were absolutely empty of specific products.

“I’m not necessarily finding everything I want. Sometimes I’ve got to substitute unfortunately,” he said. “I am surprised at the amount of empty spaces.”

Puskarz said some of the products he was noticing missing were specialty frozen items and some paper goods. He noted at times he would also shop at stores in Berlin and he was also noticing the same issues there.

“I’ve had to resort to online (shopping) a lot like Amazon or box deliveries and stuff,” he said. “The biggest thing is the prices. It’s incredible from what it was just a year ago. It’s like everything is going up.”

One man shopping at the New Britain store who did not want to share his name said he was seeing similar issues in Waterbury area grocery stores of differing franchises.

“It’s no fault of theirs,” he said of area stores. “Storms are the issue like the one in the Midwest and the one the week before. I expected shelves to be barren. You’ve just got to make do. You substitute.”

Stop & Shop corporate said it is committed to providing the best customer service possible but is having issues connecting some products with customers due to various supply chain issues.

“Stop & Shop continues to put care for our people and communities at the forefront as we have since the beginning of the pandemic. Like other retailers, we are experiencing some product shortages as our suppliers face continued labor and transportation challenges due to COVID-19,” said Stop & Shop External Communications Manager Stefanie Shuman in an email.

“The Omicron variant, in tandem with recent weather disruptions, have exacerbated these gaps and the impact is felt across the grocery industry,” she continued. “Stop & Shop remains in contact with our suppliers and is working diligently to keep high-demand products in stock.”

In Bristol, at the Stop & Shop along Farmington Avenue, Kim Longdin said Saturday she was able to find all the products she desired.

“I think the supply part correlates more with storms than anything else,” she shared. “Obviously, when we were coming up with snow, that tends to be a bigger issue and feels like everything is out then. I know part of that is covid and the supply stuff too.”

What products Longdin said she couldn’t find, she would search for at a nearby Costco. She noted prices on the whole though with a variety of stores were becoming “a bit higher.”

“It’s a bummer, but you got to eat,” said Longdin.

Elaine Gembala said she was unable to find about four or five items that she needed during her Saturday shopping, sugar being a key one. Over her last two to three shopping trips, she’s not been able to find it, over the last three weeks.

“I’d say I’m having a little difficulty,” said Gembala of her search for items. “Sometimes my husband will go to a different store and he’ll find what we need. Between the two of us, we can usually find it. It can be frustrating.”

Michelle Lavoie also said she wasn’t able to find everything she wanted either.

“A lot of the snack items, a lot of the frozen items and sometimes a whole section is wiped out,” she said. “I would say I find I have to go to multiple stores sometimes for the week. Sometimes I just don’t (find what she needs). What dinners I had planned for the week, I just have to switch because some of the pieces or ingredients just aren’t in stores.”