A year later, grocery shelves not empty
CUSTER COUNTY Just one year ago, in the March 19, 2020 issue of the Custer County Chief, empty shelves at area grocery stores were reported. Now, just after one year, we are seeing shelves full again but, according to area owners and managers, the food chain still has some issues.
Steve Fowler, Manager of the Grocery Kart in Broken Bow, said, of items that are not steadily available, “Right now, it is the oddest items, snacks and some frozen food selections.” According to Fowler, some items are slated to not be steadily available until fall of 2021. He also went on to say some of the major brands are making only the core variety of their products instead of the large selections shoppers came to rely on.
The majority of the owners and managers stated it was much better than one year ago. Lawrence Paulsen, owner of the Callaway Market said they were pretty well stocked and he wondered how soon the Texas freeze earlier in the year would affect them.
Karl Davis, Sargent Corner Market, told the Chief, “It has gotten better. It is just crazy about some things. At the Super Bowl, we had these precooked chicken wings in high demand. Since then, we have not been able to get them in. It seems there is no rhyme or reason. Paper products are much better but Lysol and some cleaning products are still in short supply.”
“It has gotten better, but still a hit or miss on some COVID related items.” John Reed, Reed’s Food Center in Arnold, said. “Right now, we are seeing weather related items being short, but I would say we are 90 percent better that last year.”
Matt Wemhoff of Gary’s Super Food’s in Broken Bow said their warehouse is basically back and fully stocked.
“When it all started, I did not think it would get as bad as it did,” he stated.
No matter what, the local stores worked hard, and continue to work hard, to get shoppers what they needed. Everyone is breathing a sigh of relief as we are going into a more normal time of shopping locally.
Pictured above, paper products such as facial tissue, bathroom tissue and paper towels are back on the shelves at the Grocery Kart in Broken Bow a year after the shelves were empty (inset) due to high demand as the COVID-19 pandemic went into full swing.