(CMR) The islands' three largest grocery stores have announced today that food demands both locally and around the world have burdened the supply chain and as a result, they are forced to limited grocery, frozen, and health & beauty care to two per customer.
Other countries around the world have been forced to do the same.
The statement in full reads:
Over the last two weeks, the island has watched as cases of COVID-19 spread across the globe forcing countries to close borders and take drastic measures to protect their citizens. Around the world, disinfectants, shelf-stable grocery items and analgesics have been in extremely high demand putting strain on manufacturing and supply chains.
Foster’s Supermarket, Priced Right, Kirk Market, and Hurley’s Marketplace have come together to address the effects COVID-19 has had on the production and supply of products. While we’re all still receiving multiple shipments per week, the challenges we continue to face to ensure products are on the shelves are many. In an effort to ensure product is available for as many of our country’s citizens as possible, we have decided to implement the following product limits across all Foster’s Supermarket, Priced Right, Kirk Market, and Hurley’s Marketplace locations, effective Monday, March 23rd:
- Limit 2 products, per UPC, per customer on the entire grocery, frozen, and health & beauty care department items.
- The meat, seafood, produce, dairy, deli and bakery departments will remain limit free.
As an example, a customer can purchase two Quaker Instant Oatmeal Original Flavor, two Quaker Instant Oatmeal Variety Packs, and two Tombstone Frozen Pizzas at the same time. All Foster’s Supermarket, Hurley’s Marketplace, Kirk Market, and Priced Right locations will implement the above limits.
While this limit may seem like it could be cause for panic, it’s not. Shipments are still coming in multiple times a week and the supermarkets are still sourcing product from any quality source we can. We’ve come together to help ensure product is available for as many people as possible during this uncertain time. Putting the product limits in place stops panic buying and should keep products on the shelf longer. In speaking with our suppliers, we will continue to get product and shipping lines continue to say that the ships will sail.
We continue to urge people to look at their shopping and consumption habits during this time, and plan for the coming weeks. While the uncertainty around COVID-19 remains, customers can rest assured that the supermarkets in Cayman are taking action to keep shelves stocked and stores clean for customers. We’re committed to providing the best service possible, and we ask that the community remain calm, think rationally and use proper hygiene practices throughout the day. We recommend designating one shopper per household to reduce the number of people in store and avoid doubling up on items. When in store, maintain safe social distancing, use a debit or credit card to pay when possible, and sanitize your hands and the shopping cart or basket handles when entering the store.
Customers with questions on product availability can speak to team members in-store, email the store directly or reach out to the supermarket’s respective social media channels.
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