Extreme weather forces Coles and Woolworths to confront grim supply chain gaps
- Replies 29
Australia has faced a barrage of catastrophic floods, cyclones, and bushfires in recent years.
The latest in a series of severe weather events has residents in Far North Queensland bracing for a second natural disaster in barely a month.
Now, leading supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths are grappling with a harsh reality as they face the devastating impact of extreme weather conditions on their supply chains.
Shoppers in various parts of the country are being greeted by empty shelves as stock levels plummet due to the wild weather battering the north of the country.
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall in a matter of days.
Supermarkets are now without essential food and supplies as a result of major flooding and heavy rainfall in the Northern Territory, which has cut off vital road and rail access throughout the state.
This problem is becoming increasingly familiar across Australia, highlighting the vulnerability of our food supply chains to climate change.
Social media posts from Darwin locals painted a grim picture of the situation as residents are hoping to stock up on food for their families.
Fruit and vegetable stands at a Coles store were barren, while the refrigerated section was devoid of meat packs.
Coles has stated that they 'work hard ahead of time to ensure we have extra supplies of water and other essential supplies in high-risk areas'.
However, fresh food, including meats and produce, can prove a challenge during these unprecedented times.
'Due to road and rail closures, there are some current challenges getting supplies into the Darwin area,' a Coles spokesperson said.
'While essential supplies remain available, as soon as the local authorities advise that the roads have been reopened, we will recommence deliveries to our stores.'
The Stuart Highway, a major access road, reopened to 4WD and heavy vehicles on Sunday afternoon, which means stocks will soon start to replenish the supermarkets.
However, this is a temporary reprieve in what is becoming a recurring issue.
Woolworths has also confirmed that they've dispatched several loads of fruit, vegetables, and meat to replenish their stores.
'These are expected to arrive in stores by Tuesday, and our team members are working hard to prepare to restock shelves as soon as new deliveries arrive,' a spokesperson from Woolworths said.
However, product limits remain in some stores, indicating the severity of the situation.
Australia's recent history is marred by a series of natural disasters, including the 2019-20 bushfires and the devastating NSW floods in 2022.
These events, coupled with the recent Tropical Cyclone Jasper in Cairns, have severely impacted supply chains, raising questions about the sustainability of our current food distribution systems.
Woolworths has been proactive in preparing for natural disasters. Ahead of the cyclone warning for Queensland, they positioned key supplies at distribution hubs up north to ensure they’re ready for any emergency.
'Additional stock has been sent to stores from Mackay to Cairns over the last week, which includes bottled water, long-life milk, noodles, flour, canned goods and poultry. Our local distribution centre in Townsville is also well supplied with key items.'
'There are no product limits currently in place, but, as always, we ask customers to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need.'
The supermarket increased the size of its Townsville Regional Distribution Centre in 2020, and it now has more fresh food and necessary product lines to stock in case of severe weather.
Coles also has contingency plans in place to ensure a sufficient supply of water and other essential supplies for the community.
'Our team is working hard to prepare our stores across FNQ with extra supplies of water and essential supplies, ahead of the impending cyclone,' a spokesperson from Coles said.
'We want to reassure our customers that we have comprehensive contingency plans in place to ensure we have sufficient supply of water and other essential supplies for the community.'
The Bureau of Meteorology has also warned Aussies to brace for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, saying, 'The system is forecast to cross the coast, most likely between Innisfail and Airlie Beach and during Thursday.'
What are your thoughts on this issue, dear readers? Have you experienced the impact of these supply chain disruptions? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
The latest in a series of severe weather events has residents in Far North Queensland bracing for a second natural disaster in barely a month.
Now, leading supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths are grappling with a harsh reality as they face the devastating impact of extreme weather conditions on their supply chains.
Shoppers in various parts of the country are being greeted by empty shelves as stock levels plummet due to the wild weather battering the north of the country.
Tropical Cyclone Kirrily is expected to make landfall in a matter of days.
Supermarkets are now without essential food and supplies as a result of major flooding and heavy rainfall in the Northern Territory, which has cut off vital road and rail access throughout the state.
This problem is becoming increasingly familiar across Australia, highlighting the vulnerability of our food supply chains to climate change.
Woolworths and Coles prepare for upcoming Tropical Cyclone Kirrily. Image source: Shutterstock.
Social media posts from Darwin locals painted a grim picture of the situation as residents are hoping to stock up on food for their families.
Fruit and vegetable stands at a Coles store were barren, while the refrigerated section was devoid of meat packs.
Coles has stated that they 'work hard ahead of time to ensure we have extra supplies of water and other essential supplies in high-risk areas'.
However, fresh food, including meats and produce, can prove a challenge during these unprecedented times.
'Due to road and rail closures, there are some current challenges getting supplies into the Darwin area,' a Coles spokesperson said.
'While essential supplies remain available, as soon as the local authorities advise that the roads have been reopened, we will recommence deliveries to our stores.'
The Stuart Highway, a major access road, reopened to 4WD and heavy vehicles on Sunday afternoon, which means stocks will soon start to replenish the supermarkets.
However, this is a temporary reprieve in what is becoming a recurring issue.
Woolworths has also confirmed that they've dispatched several loads of fruit, vegetables, and meat to replenish their stores.
'These are expected to arrive in stores by Tuesday, and our team members are working hard to prepare to restock shelves as soon as new deliveries arrive,' a spokesperson from Woolworths said.
However, product limits remain in some stores, indicating the severity of the situation.
Australia's recent history is marred by a series of natural disasters, including the 2019-20 bushfires and the devastating NSW floods in 2022.
These events, coupled with the recent Tropical Cyclone Jasper in Cairns, have severely impacted supply chains, raising questions about the sustainability of our current food distribution systems.
Woolworths has been proactive in preparing for natural disasters. Ahead of the cyclone warning for Queensland, they positioned key supplies at distribution hubs up north to ensure they’re ready for any emergency.
'Additional stock has been sent to stores from Mackay to Cairns over the last week, which includes bottled water, long-life milk, noodles, flour, canned goods and poultry. Our local distribution centre in Townsville is also well supplied with key items.'
'There are no product limits currently in place, but, as always, we ask customers to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need.'
The supermarket increased the size of its Townsville Regional Distribution Centre in 2020, and it now has more fresh food and necessary product lines to stock in case of severe weather.
Coles also has contingency plans in place to ensure a sufficient supply of water and other essential supplies for the community.
'Our team is working hard to prepare our stores across FNQ with extra supplies of water and essential supplies, ahead of the impending cyclone,' a spokesperson from Coles said.
'We want to reassure our customers that we have comprehensive contingency plans in place to ensure we have sufficient supply of water and other essential supplies for the community.'
The Bureau of Meteorology has also warned Aussies to brace for the impact of Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, saying, 'The system is forecast to cross the coast, most likely between Innisfail and Airlie Beach and during Thursday.'
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