California wildfires impact Arizona supermarkets; purchase limits imposed
Restrictions on products like eggs, toilet paper, and milk stem from supply redirection to wildfire-affected areas
In the United States, supermarkets across Arizona’s Valley have started limiting purchases of household essentials such as laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, and eggs, which are vanishing rapidly from shelves. Some aisles are now completely empty, with shoppers reporting shipment delays last week due to the California wildfires.
Dr. Gene Schneller, a professor at Arizona State University’s Department of Supply Chain Management, clarified that the shortages are not caused by a lack of supplies but by the reallocation of products to meet the urgent needs of wildfire-stricken areas.
SHOPPERS ADAPT POST-PANDEMIC
The empty shelves are evoking memories of the COVID-19 pandemic for many consumers, leading to changes in shopping habits.
Shoppers expressed frustration over new restrictions, with some stores limiting items to two or three per customer.
“It’s always the milk, the eggs, the toilet paper that go first. Very unnecessarily.”
“It is a little worrisome. That was a really stressful time for everyone to go through. To see that happen again worries me. But we have to keep on keeping on.”
Others shared how they’ve adjusted their purchasing habits to prepare for emergencies.
“I don’t buy a lot, but I buy enough to have at least a month’s worth, in case of an emergency.”
LESSONS FROM THE CRISIS
Dr. Schneller, who was in Los Angeles when the wildfires began, described the magnitude of the disaster, noting the widespread destruction and its impact on supply chains: “If you can think of 10,000 homes that are suddenly gone and those folks have to go shopping in different places, or they need to go to different food stores. I think a lot of the suppliers are going to have to rethink where they send the materials, the food and other kinds of things that they used to have.”
He believes the situation highlights the importance of being prepared for unexpected events. “I think maybe the lesson for all of us is, to be prepared that this can happen, whether it’s this kind of a natural disaster or something else, and we need to prepare for it”, he added.
While the immediate challenges are evident, Schneller does not expect long-term disruptions in the Valley’s supply chain.
