DEAR BLOOMINGFOODS OWNER-MEMBERS & SHOPPERS,
Although concerns about the overall health of the US food supply chain have mostly subsided, we are still experiencing longer-term out-of-stocks with some of your favorite brands. In an effort to keep you updated with the latest information, we’d like to share some of the primary factors that are creating these out-of-stocks. Additionally, we’d like to share a few of the brands and types of items with which we’re experiencing longer-term stocking challenges.
The primary factors that have affected the availability of some of your favorite grocery items are:
The initial stockpiling and panic buying led to “pipeline” shortages
Transportation & distribution disruptions and delays
Production and facility capacity is greatly reduced (production hours have changed, physical reconfiguration of some facilities for safer work experiences has slowed production and employee health concerns have altered shift work)
At home cooking and eating while restaurants operate at reduced capacity results in increased consumer demand for in-store groceries
Travel restrictions and agricultural distribution disruptions have curtailed the supplies of imported products (i.e. canned tomatoes)
Shortage of raw materials (i.e. rice is harvested once annually and with the spike in demand, some reserves have been depleted until the next harvest in the fall.)
Weather: the regional apple crop that we expected later this summer has been destroyed by late spring frosts
The surplus of produce (fruits and vegetables) that would normally be sold to shuttered schools and restaurants is causing quality issues in warehouses across the country
The whole agricultural sector is being affected by a shortage of seasonal workers
State regulations regarding Hot Bar/Salad Bar/Buffet style services have dictated what we can and cannot offer (our Kitchen and Deli staff have implemented some creative solutions!)
These are a few of your favorite brands that are experiencing availability challenges:
Amy’s Frozen foods
Amy’s Canned soups
Field Day (all categories)
Seventh Generation cleaning supplies and paper goods
Many varieties of tofu
Bob’s Red Mill
Lundberg Family Farms rice
Bubbies pickles (some varieties) and horseradish
Applegate Farms frozen sausages
Follow Your Heart Vegenaise
We are frequently communicating with representatives from our distributor, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) and will continue to monitor product availability and do our best to provide reasonable alternatives for long-term out-of-stocks. In spite of the difficulties of this pandemic, our mission still remains the same. We will continue to do everything we can to provide healthy, high quality, sustainable, and environmentally-sound products at a fair price to our community.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Sincerely,
The Bloomingfoods Team