3 minute read
AHEAD OF WHAT’S NEXT
from PG_0821
by ensembleiq
The New Pandemic Panic
WHY GROCERS SHOULD BE READY FOR MORE PANTRY LOADING.
re masks, hand sanitizer and toilet paper flying off the shelves again in your store? If they’re not, they could be soon. Just a few weeks ago, most Americans were ditching their masks, going out to restaurants and taking vacations, believing the pandemic to be over after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted masking requirements and social-distancing practices for the fully vaccinated. But if we’ve learned anything during the past year and a half, it’s that things can change suddenly, and that’s exactly what’s happening with a new variant of the virus that causes COVID-19.
The “hypertransmissable” Delta variant has prompted a new surge of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths this summer. While many of the new cases are mostly affecting the 45% of Americans who are unvaccinated, COVID infections are also occurring among vaccinated people in so-called breakthrough cases. As a result, the CDC has reinstated its masking and social-distancing guidelines, and Americans are worried: A July poll by the Associated Press found that 64% believe that the vaccines are ineffective against variants, including Delta.
Consumers are reacting to this news by once again avoiding restaurants and putting on masks, and even getting extra vaccine shots. They’re also reacting at the grocery store with varying levels of panic, depending on where they live. To wit, Instacart has new data showing just how much of an impact Delta is having on grocery shopping patterns.
As of July 26, mask sales via Instacart were up 37% over the past three weeks, with dramatic differences across the country. Mask sales via Instacart had been consistently dropping since their peak on April 11, but on July 7 started slowly rising again. Over the past three weeks, mask sales via Instacart have grown by 37%. Mask sales vary across the country, with most western states buying more masks over the past six weeks versus most of the rest of the country, which continues to see dramatic decreases in mask sales. In addition, Instacart data indicates notable increases in consumer purchases of key COVID-related health-and-wellness products:
“As the Delta variant introduces new uncertainty into consumers’ plans to return to normal, we’re starting to see noticeable shifts in consumer purchase patterns across the Instacart marketplace,” says Asha Sharma, COO of San Francisco-based Instacart. “While we don’t anticipate seeing a return to early COVID-era behaviors like extreme pantry loading, we won’t be surprised to see consumers start restocking their pantries in preparation for more time at home and increased safety measures if COVID-19 cases continue to rise and local communities start to pull back on reopening plans.”
Even though grocers are already navigating a storm of COVID-related challenges — higher costs, product shortages and trucking delays — they should be plotting a new path for the fall and winter. Delta — never mind the emergence of another highly contagious strain of the virus — could set off another round of shortages, supply constraints and empty shelves. Masking requirements may have to be reinstated. Deep cart cleaning may have to be restarted. Self-service food stations may have to be shut down again.
Grocers can’t control how the COVID resurgence evolves, but they can control how they prepare.
Disinfectant sprays (up 20%) Disinfecting wipes (up 18%) Hand sanitizer (up 15%) Cold and flu medicine (up 15%)
Children’s pain and fever reliever (up 12%)
Gina Acosta
Executive Editor gacosta@ensemleiq.com
