Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

Supply Chains

Grocery stores cleaned out by panic-shoppers; BC Truckers Association says no need to panic

Nov 16, 2021 | 3:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — As highways between the Interior and the Lower Mainland remain closed for repairs, concern is growing about how local grocery stores will receive meat and produce deliveries.

Shoppers have already been seen panic-buying and are clearing out shelves.

Smaller grocery shops like Fratelli Foods, a family-owned grocery shop in Kamloops, could be out of produce within days.

“My brother is on the phone right now trying to find another supplier,” Co-owner Mario Pietramala.

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: November 21, 2024

12h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Scary climate words should not be trivialized

19h ago

The Tattle of Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: Athletic therapist Kuresh talks trailblazing in the WHL, NHL dreams

Nov 20, 2024

Pietramala was putting out the last of his produce on Tuesday morning (Nov. 16). After the highway closures, he saw an uptick in shoppers.

“Basically, we’re not going to have anymore deliveries until the routes open up to Vancouver. All the wholesalers are located in Vancouver – or all the wholesalers we’ve ever dealt with. So we’re on the phone right now trying to find some alternatives out of Alberta,” Pietramala said.

The produce section at Save on Foods is already empty and the meat department is not far behind. Bigger grocery chains like Costco are already seeing line-ups that wrap around the building.

“Highways are closed. Stuff is not coming in. Shelves are getting empty, so,” one woman said as she left Costco.

“It’s crazy. It’s pretty crazy. And the debit cards aren’t working – or some of them aren’t working – so it’s pretty nuts, yeah,” another Costco shopper said.

In an email, Save on Foods told CFJC News:

“We are exploring all avenues to get product to our stores as quickly as possible. We’re asking our customers to maintain normal shopping habits.”

Costco did not get back to us by deadline, but Loblaw, the company that owns the Real Canadian Superstore said: “Our teams are working to set up deliveries to the B.C. Interior from our Alberta distribution centres to ensure we can continue to serve the communities we operate in.”

“We have to find a way to get the goods to where they need to be,” Dave Earle, CEO, BC Truckers Association said.

Hundreds of delivery trucks are stuck in Kamloops hoping to find a way to the Lower Mainland. The BC Truckers Association says deliveries will continue but truckers will likely be taking longer routes, so there’s no need for panic shopping.

“What’s really important for everybody to realize is the goods will get there. It just may take a little longer, they may cost a little more, but the goods will get there,” Earle explained.

“We were supposed to have another load come in this morning from Vancouver and it’s not going to come,” Pietramala said.

With the future of B.C.’s major delivery routes uncertain, Fratelli Foods is exploring chartering a small cargo plane for deliveries, which is often done in Northern communities.

If they do, the owners say they will share the service with other local grocery stores. Otherwise, the store might be out of produce within the next few days.

“It will be a little bit tough for us, we operate a kitchen out of here, we have a sandwich bar. There won’t be anymore fresh vegetables to put in sandwiches, so. Even as far as meats and cheeses go, they’re all coming out of the Langley and Vancouver area, so doesn’t look good,” he added.