Supermarkets: No discount prices
If you are hoping for a pre-lockdown special on your groceries, you might be out of luck.
Supermarkets around the country have been put under pressure in recent weeks as shoppers fearing the prospect of weeks at home have stocked up.
Shops have sold out of everything from flour to toilet paper, hand sanitiser and paper towels.
Paymark reported $111 million was spent on Monday alone on food and liquor purchases. But shoppers have pointed out a lack of the normal discounts and promotions.
A spokeswoman for Countdown confirmed it was not running specials for now.
‘‘We made the decision last week not to go ahead with planned promotions right now because we simply do not have the stock in store for customers and we do not want to exacerbate demand. We also want to enable our team to completely focus on serving our customers and not changing price or promotion tickets.
‘‘It would be unfair and highly disingenuous of us to promote a special price, then limit the amount people could buy, or worse, not have it available at all. We are dealing with extraordinary and unprecedented demand. If we put an item on special and it is all gone by lunchtime, that is not OK.’’
She said the situation was being reviewed every day. ‘‘Ensuring that we are providing food and other essentials to Kiwis is our absolute priority.’’ She confirmed Countdown had not increased any of its standard shelf prices and said the chain was sensitive to making sure it was delivering value for customers. ‘‘As with any week, customers may see produce and meat prices fluctuate due to seasonal or market demand.’’
Katherine Rich, chief executive of the Food and Grocery Council said running promotions required extra staff activity in manufacturing and also further in the supply chain, such as changing prices, displays, aisle ends, store layouts and planograms. ‘‘All resources are, and must be focused on, making, dispatching unpacking, stacking and keeping products on shelves.
‘‘Both supermarkets have asked suppliers for no price increases, which we respect, but companies may have to have discussions if they have to continue to airfreight and buy goods or ingredients offshore which are dramatically more expensive. The entire food and grocery sector is committed to continuity as much as possible.’’
Foodstuffs spokeswoman Antoinette Laird said the business was committed to delivering ‘‘fair value every day’’ for customers.
‘‘Covid-19 has turned everything on its head, and right now our only focus is getting the essential products on the shelf for our customers. We have no intention of increasing prices during these extraordinary times, and we are working hand in hand with our suppliers to keep key products on the shelves.’’