Grocery stores in Pittsburgh area struggling to keep shelves stocked

Food supply shortages impacted local businesses

The Charley family owns three Shop ‘n Save locations in Westmoreland County.

“It’s something that we’re fighting every day,” Tom Charley said. “We’re sourcing from multiple vendors. We’re using more vendors today than we ever have.”

Charley said his store only received half of their weekly order from their distributors this past week. It’s an issue stores have faced with various products throughout the pandemic.

“People have been very understanding and they know now what to expect at the store, but it’s very frustrating when you put in an order to fill up the store and you only get half the order,” Charley said.

National experts have cited staffing, rising COVID-19 cases due to the omicron variant and winter weather across the country as the reasons behind the latest stretch of supply chain problems.

Those concerns, coupled with recent inflation trends have also caused the price of groceries to jump.

“All of the costs are going up and it’s hitting us with cost increases too,” Charley said. “We are being very deliberate in trying to find the best deals we can possibly find and it’s a challenge.”

Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 reached out to a spokesperson for U.S. Foods, one of the area’s largest suppliers, but did not hear back.

Source: Grocery stores in Pittsburgh area struggling to keep shelves stocked

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