Food expert wouldn’t be surprised if grocery stores see temporary closures

A Halifax food expert says it wouldn't be surprising if some grocery stores temporarily close as many see a shortage of food on store shelves.

“Consumers will walk into a grocery store and will expect choices, variety, quality and things like that,” Sylvain Charlebois told CityNews Halifax. “You can't just operate a grocery store, open up and hope for the best — and frankly, it's not just profitable at all.

“I wouldn't be surprised to see stores close temporarily, whether it's in [the] HRM or elsewhere just because really, right now, it's so tough.”

As the Omicron wave surges across Canada, several grocery stores have seen empty shelves as COVID-19 protocols push employee absenteeism and prevent products from being delivered.

Add on a crippling global supply chain, and it's been clear some grocers have been struggling in the new year.

Charlebois, a Dalhousie University food distribution and food policy professor, said there are four main reasons some grocers are seeing empty shelves.

One of those top reasons includes the protocols that arise out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Omicron has completely paralyzed the food economy,” Charlebois said. “You're dealing with perishable ingredients most of the time and you have to do all the work with 20 to 30 per cent fewer people around.

“Omicron was a gut punch to the food industry and to grocers because you just have to do the same amount of work with fewer people around.”

Moreover, recent federal vaccine mandates for truckers — forcing a quarantine period on those who aren't fully vaccinated — have caused a rift in the industry.

Charlebois said the mandate has impacted around 125,000 American truck drivers who typically bring food products across the border, which could eventually lead to issues with food access.

However, he said the lack of products on some grocery store shelves isn't entirely due to COVID-19 protocols and supply chain issues.

For instance, recent recalls in Canada have forced many grocers to pull produce and other food products from shelves.

On top of that, he said intense snowstorms have only added to the “perfect storm” that grocers are experiencing.

But in the end, Charlebois said Canadians do not have to worry about their local grocers entirely running out of food.

Instead, it's consumers could see higher prices as well as fewer options when they visit their local grocery stores.

“Consumers may not always find what they want at times, but they will always find what they need at the grocery store,” Charlebois wrote for Saltwire. “This is due to the work and effort of companies, and people willing to deal with whatever is thrown at them.