As an outbreak of a new coronavirus causes some U.S. customers to fill up shopping carts and thin out store shelves, industry groups and experts say grocers can tamp down on 'panic buying' by planning ahead and trying to stay stocked.
in recent weeks. Sales of shelf-stable grocery items, including fruit snacks, dried beans and pretzels, are on the rise, too, according to late February data from Nielsen.
Doug Baker, vice president of industry relations of food retailer trade group FMI, said U.S. shoppers have focused on buying items for prevention and preparedness. Now, in some parts of the country, they are shifting to response mode. He said they're buying longer-lasting grocery items, such as canned goods and frozen fruits and vegetables."We have to try to understand what consumers are thinking before they think of it," he said.
Grocery delivery companies Instacart and FreshDirect have both reported a surge in business. Instacart said in a statement Monday that it's had more demand than usual for bottled water, hand sanitizer and other household essentials. FreshDirect said Friday that it had delivery delays and increased demand for fresh seafood, fresh chicken, baby food and household cleaning products.
He said sales of fresh food items like fruits and vegetables and imported items, such as European cheeses and meats, are likely to take a hit in the U.S. On the other hand, he said, local items and sealed goods, such as granola bars, will likely gain popularity.
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