Seeing empty grocery store shelves? Staffing issues are to blame, chamber of commerce says
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By WHIO Staff
DAYTON — Many across the region have noticed yet another effect of the pandemic as several grocery store shelves are empty and without several popular products.
Meat, produce, and even some packaged goods can be hard to come by in the Miami Valley. News Center 7′s Candace Price said she went to three grocery stores last weekend for strawberries, but was unsuccessful in locating any.
The reason for shortages, yet again, is the effects of the pandemic, according to the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce.
Virus Outbreak Groceries Frozen food coolers sit empty at a grocery store in Cranberry Township, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)
Virus Outbreak Groceries The milk shelf is mostly empty at a Giant grocery store on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Washington. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Parker Purifoy) (Parker Purifoy)
Virus Outbreak Groceries A shopper walks past partially empty frozen food coolers at a grocery in Cranberry Township, Pa., on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)
Virus Outbreak Groceries A shopper at a grocery in Pittsburgh looks at the partially empty display of breakfast meats on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)
Virus Outbreak Groceries Shelves sit empty at a Walmart in Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 8, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) (Mark Thiessen)
Virus Outbreak Groceries Shoppers walk past empty aisles of produce at a Safeway on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022, in Washington. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Parker Purifoy) (Parker Purifoy)
Virus Outbreak Groceries A display of lunch meats is restocked at a grocery in Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar ) (Gene J. Puskar)
Virus Outbreak Groceries Shelves that held Chef Boyardee products are partially empty at a grocery in Pittsburgh, on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022. Shortages at U.S. grocery stores have grown in recent weeks as new problems — like the fast-spreading omicron variant and severe weather — have piled on to the supply chain struggles and labor shortages that have plagued retailers since the coronavirus pandemic began. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) (Gene J. Puskar)
As the county continues to deal with the COVID-19 surge brought on by the omicron variant, the latest impact to grocery store shelves has to do partially with supply issues, but more importantly this time around are staffing issues, Christopher Kershner, President and CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce told Price.
“Workforce isn’t just a challenge in the Dayton area…but across the world. Happening everywhere … trickling down to communities like Dayton,” Kershner said.
Timing of when you go to the grocery store could help you get those items you need, rather than shopping later in the day, Kershner said.