Wegmans has issued a release on the coronavirus, echoing what we’ve observed on the front lines: People are loading up on items much as they do in anticipation of major storms.
“Shopping trends are mimicking what we see leading up to a weather event,” the company said in the statement. “Customers are stocking up on paper products and a variety of food items, particularly those with a longer shelf life. Additionally, we’re seeing an increase in our e-commerce business and expect that demand will continue to grow. “
Not surprisingly, customers are buying many of the same products they buy in flu season, including hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial soap. But avathe supply of many items – particularly sanitizers and disposable gloves – is limited, and face masks are unavailable.
Wegmans is seeking guidance from its crisis group, “a high-level team comprised of employees from across the organization – formed 25 years ago – whose purpose is to ensure the safety of our employees, customers and products. “
According to the statement, the team meets regularly, sometimes with external experts, to “review contingency plans for a variety of different scenarios, including potential infectious disease outbreaks.”