Coronavirus-Related Meat Shortages? Don't Panic: Stew Leonard Jr.

NORWALK, CT — If the country experiences any meat shortages as a result of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), they will only be temporary, according to Stew Leonard Jr.

In a series of media interviews this week, the owner of the eponymous supermarket chain — with locations in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey — wants to assure customers that despite the closure of some meat packing plants and overall industry slowdown meat is and will be available.

"We feel the whole meat issue right now is temporary," Leonard told the Connecticut Post. "I would urge customers, don’t panic about meat."

He said that any shortages might last about month or so, and his stores currently have plenty of poultry and fish, writes NBC Connecticut. (Don't miss local and statewide news about coronavirus developments and precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.)

A packing plant where Stew's sources meat is running at about 70 percent of capacity at the moment, Leonard said, but he is confident that will ramp back up by summer.

The chain's seven stores have seen more than 2 million customers over the past two months, he said, but Stew's has not had to limit purchases of meat during the period.

Below, Stew Leonard Jr. gives his tips on how businesses should handle reopening in the coming weeks:

Read the Connecticut Post story; read the NBC Connecticut story.