Costco customers are familiar with the frustration of wanting to stock up on their favorite Costco products only to find out that they have been discontinued or are out-of-stock. Unfortunately, this happens pretty regularly at the chain’s warehouses, and in the coming weeks shelves will look even emptier, according to a new announcement made by the company last week.
Typically, when the warehouse retailer faces shortages it may be because there were disruptions in manufacturing, delivery delays, or prices have risen way too high to keep in line with the company’s low-cost brand. When products are discontinued it is often because they were limited edition or weren’t selling well.
Then again, it could just be that the retailer wants to create a sense of urgency and encourage shoppers to embark on its infamous Costco grocery treasure hunts.
Down the supply chain, manufacturers and food processors are coping with declining agricultural and livestock production as well as labor shortages and rampant operational costs.
As we were warned by experts and economists several times in the past, grocery inflation and shortages will be stickier than government officials have predicted.
Sadly, this means Americans will have to get used to spending more on food and seeing their favorite essentials vanishing from sight.