How grocery stores are trying to prevent ‘panic buying’ as coronavirus causes stockpiling, emptying shelves

As an outbreak of a new coronavirus causes some U.S. customers to fill up shopping carts and thin out store shelves, industry groups and experts say grocers can tamp down on “panic buying” by planning ahead and trying to stay stocked.

Grocery stores, including Costco stores, have seen a spike in sales of household items like hand sanitizer, face masks and cases of bottled water in recent weeks. Sales of shelf-stable grocery items, including fruit snacks, dried beans and pretzels, are on the rise, too, according to late-February data from Nielsen.

At U.S. stores, sales of fruit snacks were up by nearly 13%, dried beans were up 10% and pretzels were up 9% in the week that ended Feb. 22, according to Nielsen data. Sales of energy drinks, pet medicine, vitamin supplements and first-aid kits also saw sales spike.

MORE: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/02/grocers-try-to-prevent-panic-buying-as-coronavirus-causes-stockpiling.html

How grocery stores are trying to prevent ‘panic buying’ as coronavirus causes stockpiling, emptying shelves