Retail chains work to refill shelves as shoppers hoard groceries amid war

Israel’s main supermarket chains are working to ensure that shelves are restocked as consumers hoard groceries and other food supplies.

Carrefour Israel (formerly Mega-Yeinot Bitan) said all of its 151 branches across the country, along with the chain’s online network, were working at full capacity.

“We have prepared in advance with significant inventories and our logistics system is operating at full capacity,” said Carrefour CEO Michael Luboshitz. “There is enough merchandise, and there is no need to stock up beyond what is required.”

On Sunday, Carrefour branches were open from 6 a.m. until midnight and reported a 300 percent jump in the volume of purchases across the entire chain compared to the same day a week ago. Online shopping orders doubled, and those made through the Wolt delivery service soared by 400%.

Since Sunday, schools and nonessential businesses have remained shuttered across Israel in line with the civilian guidelines issued by the IDF’s Home Front Command, after Israel and the US launched a joint offensive against Iran on Saturday morning. Iran has been firing missiles at Israel intermittently since then, leading most people to lie low at home. Supermarkets and food stores are among the businesses exempt from guidelines.

Carrefour said that as the security situation evolved, and as signs grew of a potential war in recent weeks, it prepared by increasing stock inventories in all the main categories, with an emphasis on basic food products, including water, baby products and hygiene.

Similarly, Shufersal, the country’s largest supermarket chain, continues to operate all of its stores at full capacity.

City Market urban grocery chain, which operates 80 branches across the country, said it experienced a sharp increase of over 70% in demand for basic products in the last two days. Among the basic goods that shoppers are stocking up on are mineral water, eggs, milk, dairy products, breads, pastas, and canned goods such as tuna, City Market said. Other high-demand products include toilet paper, kitchen paper towels, diapers and baby food.

“We prepared in advance with increased inventory and staff reinforcements,” commented City Market founder and CEO Yossi Schwartz. “We will continue to operate around the clock to ensure shelves are full and support will be available at any time, in every branch.”

The chain said it will continue to regularly replenish inventories to fill store shelves and provide a quick response to heightened demand.