The supermarkets across the country are facing empty shelves, amidst this ongoing pandemic, a surge in new omicron cases. The long stretch of harsh winter is also causing an imbalance of the supply-demand chain.
Consumers, retailers, and market analysts are facing a nostalgia of the first few months of the pandemic. A great deal of uncertainty is looming over their minds. They are facing problems such as economic crisis, as the daily consumption goods are on the edge of going haywire.
According to a report by Bloomberg, covid-19 cases in the continent have been seen to be maximizing three times as compared to the last year. The supermarkets staffs are most at risk.
There is an exponential amount of pressure on the staff who are operating and working more than their allotted hours.Although the stores are able to meet the consumer demands.
A major grocery chain staff underwent a huge amount of cases in the midwest.
As a result, this is spiking labor shortages everywhere. Vulnerable people, especially the elderly and the ones who have kids are choosing to stay safe in their homes. With schools closing again, no one wants to take any risks this time.
The inconvenience faced by the supermarkets and grocery stores is most likely to be a part of a short-term problem. It can be linked to the surge in covid-19 cases, with the new variant playing foul, causing a panic with customers, workers who are linked to the supply chain management.
Additionally, reports have been coming in for freight issues such as shipping delays, overcrowding at the ports along labor shortage.
“Obstacles in the supply chain and re-stocking of supermarkets shelves will keep on having their own ups and downs. However, by the later part of this year, supply chain will have a normal scedule." Stated Doug Baker who works for a leading trade company in the US.
“We need to be having a mindset where we can put an asterisk. The chances of getting another variant and another spike in cases is high. Additionally, there are some unusual and unpredictable weather patterns like never before”, he added.
Although he urges people to be optimistic and look forward to going back to normal, once the nation surpasses the rise of cases with the new variant.
Combining the newest Covid-19 variant and the long stretch of winter weather has made things worse in the supply chain situation.
Extreme weather abnormalities such as torrential rains, tornadoes, hurricanes in the spring season were the major cause for the imbalance in the supply chain industry.
The food and consumer industry is trying to curb the demands. They are working on overcoming their shortcomings,while looking for ways to allure the ex-workers back in the workforce.