Co-op food stores adjusting supply after unprecedented demand

Many people going to grocery stores may be seeing empty shelves after a surge in demand due to COVID-19, but the stores’ operators are asking customers for patience.

John Stilborn, the food division manager for Sherwood Co-op, spoke with Greg Morgan on Monday and asked for continued patience from customers. He said this is not a shortage situation, it is simply a matter of adjusting the supply of certain goods to meet unprecedented demand.

“Our teams, like others, I’m sure are reacting as best they are able, increasing the quantity of the orders placed, adjusting on the move day to day while at the same time trying their best to keep their facilities clean and organized,” Stilborn said.

The toilet paper shelves at the Sherwood Co-op location on Rochdale Boulevard were empty during a recent visit.

He said suppliers are also adjusting to the dramatic new demand but it may take some time to catch up.

“Many of them have encouraged retailers and the public alike that they’ve already made some adjustments to avoid shorting. Some of those adjustments will show progress in the supply much sooner while others are going to take a little bit longer,” Stilborn said.

He said products like toilet paper are already seeing some improvement in the supply chain and there should be a quick turnaround in canned goods and pasta products as well.

“There’s going to be some items such as sanitation wipes and hand sanitizers I think that are going to take a little longer for regular supply to catch up,” Stilborn said.

From his perspective, crowds at Co-op stores have not been too chaotic and most customers have shown patience about the long waits at checkouts and limited supplies of certain items.

He noted it is human nature to possibly overreact to something like the COVID-19 pandemic, which nobody fully understands yet. Stilborn believes society will relax as people begin to take the situation day by day and week by week.