(WBEN) - Why are some shelves inside grocery stores still empty, weeks after panic buying began?
Though we have been told many times that the supply chain is intact and working well, that chain has had trouble keeping up with unprecedented nationwide demand.
“The grocery supply chains as a whole have been taken by surprise,” said Nallan Suresh, UB Distinguished Professor of operations management andstrategy in the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Suresh is a leading expert in supply chain management, and has been studying how it works for years.
“The industry was taken by surprise by the panic buying and hoarding behavior of customers,” Suresh said. “That is definitely a failing.”
Panic buying is nothing new, but the scale of that problem this time is unprecedented.
Unlike a hurricane or other natural disaster, this event is worldwide. That means that stores have not been able to draw upon neighboring suppliers for help.
“It’s obvious the lessons learned from previous hurricane-like events have not been adequate,” Suresh said. “The industry clearly has been surprised by the unexpected demand surge, even though it had a three or four week lead time to prepare.”
Despite that, Suresh believes that the supply chains have been reacting fast and increasing production despite social distancing challenges.