Grocery Store Shelves Empty

[seashoreCM]

In my area (greater Boston) there is a large grocery store chain called Market Basket. A few years ago there was an upper level corporate fight. I might mention that the two sides were headed by an Arthur S. and an Arthur T. respectively.

In the heat of the battle, store employees including delivery truck drivers went on strike and large sections of the store (actually just the perishables and produce) had empty shelves for weeks. Customers were few and far between.

Today (March 2020) the owners of the grocery stores (including Market Basket where Arthur S.' side ended up with the stores) mobbed by panicking shoppers must be very happy, moving in more stock and ringing up more sales each day than they had for the past many years.

 

[Pooh2]

I could not get into the Market Basket parking lot yesterday.
Went over to Hannaford and the lines were not bad and shelves stocked.

 

[HeatherC]

I was too “afraid” to go to our local Market Basket yesterday.. Stop and Shop doesn’t get as crazy where I live.

 

[L&Lfan]

We’re out of toilet paper, bottled water and all “sanitizing” cleaners. All else is plentiful.

 

[msjprincess]

I have to go the supermarket later. I'm scared. LOL. Our local supermarket is crazy packed on a regular Friday.

 

[Moliphino]

The toilet paper panic has hit my local Big Y. We were there on Sunday and it was fully stocked. I went in yesterday and there was barely any left. I did manage to get a couple 4 packs for my parents. The lines to check out were also ridiculous.

 

[Marionnette]

I went out to do my weekly shopping yesterday at 8:30 AM. The grocery store was already mobbed. Lots of people stocking up on water and toilet paper. No bleach or disinfectants on the shelves. Milk of all kinds was flying out of the cases as quickly as they could stock it.

I found Clorox at Lowes earlier in the week and bought 3 gallons. A 10% bleach solution is a good disinfectant if you can deal with the smell and the holes it creates in clothing when it splashes. We just lost my 94-year-old father-in-law to complications due to pneumonia. I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure that my dear mother-in-law (also 94) doesn’t run the risk of getting sick.

 

[mrodgers]

I have Giant Eagle I can't afford and Walmart where the shelves have been empty since moving back in my home town 4 years ago. The empty shelves are normal, not anything virus related. Tuesday went to pick up a few things. Yogurt, eggs, milk, sausage, bacon, deoderant, toilet paper, tissues, are a few of the items that the shelves have been almost completely empty of for 4 years now.

I have a grocery store 3 miles away that I drive past every day and Walmart 6 miles away and I have to drive 44 miles 1 way to grocery shop.

 

[Turn the Page]

Dh manages a grocery store. He is completely out of clorox spray, clorox wipes, hand sanitizer, and is almost out of toilet paper. He said he hasn't seen hysteria buying like this since y2k.

 

[ronandannette]

I only go into large, national-chain supermarkets about once a month for big shops so I haven't been in one for several weeks. We've got a little gem of a small, family-owned grocery store and a very small branch of a big-chain drug store right here in our own neighbourhood. It's a throw-back to the '60's when this was suburban utopia and because access is not on any main route, nobody but neighbourhood people really shop there. Selection isn't near what you'd find in the big-box places but they do have absolutely everything - including disinfectant and paper products.

 

[RangerPooh]

I went to the grocery store last night. Lines weren;t long but carts were over flowing. The meat cases were empty. Only a few random packages left. Bread, eggs, vegetable oil, and Top Ramen were gone too. Hamburger buns and most tortillas remained. I will probably return for some odds and ends.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I've been in a Market Basket once in my life. I don't even know if that one is still open (Lake Charles, LA).

I'm going to hit my very local store today. This store is the only one that opened after hurricane Gustav. They had generators and kept people from hoarding. It's not a chain. The store is always spotless. Prices are a little higher, but I want to support them the way they support us when things get dicey around here.

 

[RamblingMad]

We’re out of toilet paper, bottled water and all “sanitizing” cleaners. All else is plentiful.

Same here.

 

[shamrock30]

I'm afraid to go into Market basket. It's busy and frantic on a regular day. We could use a few grocery items, but nothing we can't live without, so we'll see in a few days.

 

[HopperFan]

I did a minimal shop yesterday morning anticipating crowds today through the weekend. It wasn't crowded and most items were still on the shelf - minus the clorox & sanitizing stuff that has been gone for awhile. The one thing that surprised me was all the rice gone. I have a kid that loves rice so I keep in the house ..... only the bagged and specialty was left. Now that school is officially closed, ours for probably at least a month ... I expect there to be lots of empty shelves.

 

[DisneyHardin]

I need to do grocery shopping. I am planning to go either late tonight or super early tomorrow morning in hopes that I don't have long lines to check out.

I am a little worried about being able to get all the things on my list. We need basics like milk, bread, eggs, etc.

 

[erc]

I need to do grocery shopping. I am planning to go either late tonight or super early tomorrow morning in hopes that I don't have long lines to check out.

I am a little worried about being able to get all the things on my list. We need basics like milk, bread, eggs, etc.

They bake bread every night. Really very very early morning. Not sure why people hoard it. And now my backyard chicken flock is getting even more love from us.

 

[HopperFan]

I need to do grocery shopping. I am planning to go either late tonight or super early tomorrow morning in hopes that I don't have long lines to check out.

I am a little worried about being able to get all the things on my list. We need basics like milk, bread, eggs, etc.

My plan going forward is be there when they open with a list and no plan to wander.

Hoping for ~
- low crowds
- fuller shelves from stocking during night
- cleaner stores from cleaning during night
- safer buggies from no one touching all night

Our store always has buckets of wipes out there to clean your buggie handles. Last visit those are empty.

A couple stores I shopped at yesterday had a greatly reduced check out staff.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I need to do grocery shopping. I am planning to go either late tonight or super early tomorrow morning in hopes that I don't have long lines to check out.

I am a little worried about being able to get all the things on my list. We need basics like milk, bread, eggs, etc.

Many larger markets re-stock their shelves overnight. You may find going early in the morning more advantageous especially as today is Friday.

 

[Hikergirl]

I went to BJ's this morning, it was insane.
The line to checkout was over 1 hour long. There was some water left but ALL the meat was gone except the pre-packaged stuff like smoked sausages and hot dogs.
I just needed a few things (regular shopping) so I was blissfully unaware that the line of people snaking throughout the store was actually the checkout line. I got my stuff, asked someone about the line and then put all my stuff back.
Went to the grocery store which was definitely busier than usual but got all my stuff and was in and out within 15 minutes. It was crazy, I really think people think it's the end of days.