Another reason grocery stores are running out of things

[Big Matt]

At least where I live (DC metro area), everyone is home and eating at home. Kids are home from school (lunch and snacks). Workers are home (breakfast/lunch). College kids are home (all meals and snacks). Nobody is eating out. Depending on the family size this could be two or three times as much food as compared to two weeks ago. Food purchases by institutional sources and food distributors are taking a huge hit for the same reason. It will be interesting to see if food distributors get creative and start selling wholesale to consumers via pop ups or some other cleaver ways.

 

[SteelerGal]

I know small restaurants are starting to sell their staples. I’ve considered it.

 

[stmartinfan]

Food manufacturers and processors who sell to both commercial customers and supermarkets are working hard to make the needed shifts in packaging, labeling, etc., that will allow them to move food into the retail side. But it takes a while. That said, I did purchase a bunch of celery at my local store that was simply wrapped in plastic wrap, without the branded sleeve it would normally be in. I assumed it had been diverted at some point from the restaurant supply chain to retail.

 

[plpgma]

I know small restaurants are starting to sell their staples. I’ve considered it.

This is not related to the conversation thread at all -- however, going strictly by your on-line name, I'm guessing that you are a Pittsburgher, eh? I am too (re: I married Maryland gal, so that is where I live -- but I still consider the 'burgh my hometown). That's all -- no real comment or response requested -- just wanted to call out a fellow Yinzer!

 

[clifffaith]

At least where I live (DC metro area), everyone is home and eating at home. Kids are home from school (lunch and snacks). Workers are home (breakfast/lunch). College kids are home (all meals and snacks). Nobody is eating out. Depending on the family size this could be two or three times as much food as compared to two weeks ago. Food purchases by institutional sources and food distributors are taking a huge hit for the same reason. It will be interesting to see if food distributors get creative and start selling wholesale to consumers via pop ups or some other cleaver ways.

Someone on Facebook saw fit to comment/hint broadly "$300 is an awful lot to spend on food...". When I mentioned that's what I spent Thursday (and I spent a like amount yesterday). My thought was "when was the last time you went to the store? under normal circumstances for two of us who don't cook more than once or twice a month, I spend $125 a week" -- $300 didn't sound like very much at all for two households (was shopping for Mom too). I have more food in the house than I ever have had, and the only thing I bought multiples of were frozen green beans for us (2 bags) and 4 soup/4 big cans of tuna for Mom -- that was at Smart & Final and was store trip #8 and the only place that had any soup or tuna at all.

 

[TravelTime]

Someone on Facebook saw fit to comment/hint broadly "$300 is an awful lot to spend on food...". When I mentioned that's what I spent Thursday (and I spent a like amount yesterday). My thought was "when was the last time you went to the store? under normal circumstances for two of us who don't cook more than once or twice a month, I spend $125 a week" -- $300 didn't sound like very much at all for two households (was shopping for Mom too). I have more food in the house than I ever have had, and the only thing I bought multiples of were frozen green beans for us (2 bags) and 4 soup/4 big cans of tuna for Mom -- that was at Smart & Final and was store trip #8 and the only place that had any soup or tuna at all.

We spent $300 last time we went food shopping just for the two of us.

 

[Icc5]

We each received calls today from the Retail Clerks Union now allowing us to go back to work and work as many hours as offered and still receive our full monthly pension checks. Well, we both retired from Safeway, me in 2013 with 43 years in and my wife in 2015 with 42 years in. Would not give up retirement no matter what they paid.
I'm betting the union offered this to get retirees to work (most retirees in our industry 65 or older) and a way to stop paying us as the retiree fund has been going down hill for years. Nope, we will stay home,hopefully virus free and receive our pensions for a long time.
Bart

 

[Makai Guy]

This is not related to the conversation thread at all -- however, going strictly by your on-line name, I'm guessing that you are a Pittsburgher, eh? I am too (re: I married Maryland gal, so that is where I live -- but I still consider the 'burgh my hometown). That's all -- no real comment or response requested -- just wanted to call out a fellow Yinzer!

Reminder from ANOTHER Yinzer: this is the sort of thing private conversations are for. See How do I send a private message to another TUGBBS user?

 

[SteelerGal]

I believe it is related especially in our area, SoCal. Since many of major chain stores are waiting for inventory some of the gap is being fulfilled by ethnic stores as well as small family restaurants, who are unable to open. You will be surprised by the # of ppl still looking for staples such as beans and rice.

Btw many of the schools in our area are distributing breakfast and lunch to help families.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I believe it is related especially in our area, SoCal. Since many of major chain stores are waiting for inventory some of the gap is being fulfilled by ethnic stores as well as small family restaurants, who are unable to open. You will be surprised by the # of ppl still looking for staples such as beans and rice.

The Asian supermarket near our house is much better stocked than the local Safeway and Kroger. Problem, I have no idea how to cook with half of the stuff in their aisles. I do go there often for produce, which is inexpensive and high quality. Last trip I stocked up on rice and rice noodles, and added those to our emergency stash.

Plus - their staff has much higher personal protection equipment. Everyone there is wearing quality masks, and the checkout clerks are also wearing full face shields. So I feel better shopping there, knowing that they are doing more to protect their staff. Which also decreases my risk of being exposed at the checkout line.

 

[dioxide45]

We each received calls today from the Retail Clerks Union now allowing us to go back to work and work as many hours as offered and still receive our full monthly pension checks. Well, we both retired from Safeway, me in 2013 with 43 years in and my wife in 2015 with 42 years in. Would not give up retirement no matter what they paid.
I'm betting the union offered this to get retirees to work (most retirees in our industry 65 or older) and a way to stop paying us as the retiree fund has been going down hill for years. Nope, we will stay home,hopefully virus free and receive our pensions for a long time.
Bart

If they offered to pay you your full monthly pension check, how could it be a way to stop paying you from the retiree fund?

 

[Steve Fatula]

We spent $300 last time we went food shopping just for the two of us.

Here in S Oklahoma, we spend around $90 every 10 days or so for groceries, lol. So, a couple hundred a month. The senior days or hours are sure working. We went at 7AM today (first time I've ever went grocery shopping at 7AM) and they had 3 trucks come in the night before. So, by the time all us seniors left, the shelves were really starting to get empty. I felt bad for those arriving at 8AM, the non seniors.

 

[turkel]

The Asian supermarket near our house is much better stocked than the local Safeway and Kroger. Problem, I have no idea how to cook with half of the stuff in their aisles. I do go there often for produce, which is inexpensive and high quality. Last trip I stocked up on rice and rice noodles, and added those to our emergency stash.

Plus - their staff has much higher personal protection equipment. Everyone there is wearing quality masks, and the checkout clerks are also wearing full face shields. So I feel better shopping there, knowing that they are doing more to protect their staff. Which also decreases my risk of being exposed at the checkout line.

Sounds like they have **** they don’t need while nurses and doctors are struggling to make do with low supplies. Glad your comforted by this instead of completely outraged!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Sounds like they have **** they don’t need while nurses and doctors are struggling to make do with low supplies. Glad your comforted by this instead of completely outraged!

1. They are not wearing N-95 masks. They are wearing surgical masks, which are not in short supply.

2. I don't know about California, but in Washington grocery store clerks have been identified as front-line critical workers and are intended to receive priority for allocation of masks and other PPE.

I don't have a problem with people wearing protective gear who need gear. The outrage is ordinary citizens squandering N-95 masks. Or the Target store in West Seattle that today was found selling N-95 masks to the general public.

I'm also considered vulnerable. I mentioned in another thread that Washington is working up triage plans. If I get it and need care while triage is in effect, I'm probably one of the people that will be given palliative care only because if I get it my chances of treatment being effective are too low.

 

[pedro47]

I have not seen any grocery store clerks wearing any N-95 masks in the Tidewater Virginia area;
and that includes major, middle & small size grocery stores in our area.

 

[presley]

"$300 is an awful lot to spend on food...". When I mentioned that's what I spent Thursday (and I spent a like amount yesterday). My thought was "when was the last time you went to the store?

I think it depends on what people normally buy. If people buy dried beans and rice, then $300. does sound like a lot. Personally, I bought 2 bags of groceries a couple days ago and it was nearly $100. I spent about $25. on herbal teas. Other than that, everything I bought will be consumed within a 2 period. If I shopped for a week, would have spent quite a bit more than $300.

 

[WinniWoman]

At least where I live (DC metro area), everyone is home and eating at home. Kids are home from school (lunch and snacks). Workers are home (breakfast/lunch). College kids are home (all meals and snacks). Nobody is eating out. Depending on the family size this could be two or three times as much food as compared to two weeks ago. Food purchases by institutional sources and food distributors are taking a huge hit for the same reason. It will be interesting to see if food distributors get creative and start selling wholesale to consumers via pop ups or some other cleaver ways.

I just posted the same thing on another thread. Same goes for toilet paper, etc.

 

[WinniWoman]

We spent $300 last time we went food shopping just for the two of us.

Just the other day I spent well over $500 for food and liquor. LOL! I needed to stock our freezer and pantry and I still forgot some things. We are also only 2.

 

[geekette]

I'm on the budget plan, limiting to $50 right after I get paid, no more than another 50 before next monthly pay. No eating out, making my own food and stretching staples. A Costco stock up a few years ago could have been $300. There is still meat in my deep freeze from spending my 2019 Costco rebate. Haven't spent this one yet. Holding until things get smoother.

 

[Icc5]

If they offered to pay you your full monthly pension check, how could it be a way to stop paying you from the retiree fund?

Since retirees are usually older (I'm) 69 there is more chance of us dieing if we get sick with the virus. Of course our pension dies with us.