Shortages Encountered By Readers At Some NoVA Grocery Stores

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Shortages of items weren't just a temporary aftershock of last week's storm in Northern Virginia. As supply chain issues and labor shortages linger, shoppers have run into trouble finding certain items at some stores.

Grocery stores around the U.S. are experiencing low supplies of some items due to a combination of factors. Labor shortages due to COVID-19 infections are impacting all kinds of professions, including grocery store employees, food manufacturing workers and truck drivers. On top of that, last week's winter storm caused delays in deliveries to some stores.

We asked Patch readers in Northern Virginia communities to share items that have been difficult to find. Alexandria reader Ann Shack noted that stores such as Trader Joe's and Giant have had delays in their truck deliveries. Shack has seen shortages for over two weeks, especially with dairy products such as cream cheese as well as many beef items.

SEE ALSO: U.S. Grocery Store Shelves Are Empty. Here's What's Behind It.

Reader Rebecca Lee made the same observation at Trader Joe's in Centreville. She took photos showing produce and meat shelves nearly empty on Sunday. She attributed the low supply to Trader Joe's truck deliveries being stuck in Pennsylvania due to a snowstorm.

Other readers shared photos showing nearly empty shelves at grocery stores. Reader Deanne Light shared photos at the Wegmans in Fairfax showing some types of produce gone, and Light noted breads and meats were low as well.

A photo shared at the Harris Teeter in Tysons showed a bread aisle that was depleted but not completely empty. Another user reported "lots of empty shelves" at Giant on Broad Street in Falls Church and Harris Teeter at Avenir Place in Vienna on Wednesday.

In some cases, specific products may be hard to find at multiple stores. Reader Amelie Krikorian said cream cheese and ricotta cheese have been hard to find for months.

Krikorian said the Oakton Giant was almost out of all produce last week, the meat section only had vacuum-sealed items, and the milk case was empty. After heading to the Vienna Giant, just about the same things were missing.

"It reminded me of Snowmageddon and the first months of Covid," Krikorian wrote.

Depending on when shoppers head to a store, it may be better stocked. Susan Goewey observed "tons and tons of groceries in every aisle" at the Vienna Giant on Wednesday. She did have trouble finding specific types of items she gets for her son, who has autism, is on a gluten-free diet, and eats organic food when possible.

"I was glad to see the Giant was well stocked...Milk was a little low, but it was available," Goewey wrote.

It isn't just human products that can be hard to find. Several users reported difficulty finding cat food. Reader Bernard Gilbert said the Aldi on Kenmore Avenue in Alexandria had good supply of most products but was out of cat food. Another user replied that prescription cat food was out at their veterinarian.

It's worth noting shortages may not affect every store, especially after they just get deliveries. For instance, I visited several stores in the city of Falls Church this week. On Wednesday, the Aldi and Harris Teeter stores in Falls Church appeared to be well-stocked, including items that tend to run low such as eggs and milk. When I visited Giant Food on Broad Street Sunday, many products were stocked, but eggs were gone and some produce was low. I got everything on my shopping list, except for eggs.

While experts are divided on how long inventory concerns will last, one reader has some advice for those having trouble finding everything on their shopping list.

Here's what McLean reader Mark Hanson has to say:

It is a good time to go through the cabinets and the freezer to pull forward the forgotten items that are nearing expiration. Use them up and it is like finding money in the pocket of an old coat. Be a little creative and use up the rice, pasta, ramen, etc. with the tuna, soup, frozen vegetables, meat, etc., but also use up the packaged meals and things that don't keep well. It may not be exactly what you hoped for, but using what you already have will ultimately help ease parts of the shortage, and when supplies return, you can refill the cabinet with things that are not about to expire. If you don't know what's in the back of the cabinet/pantry/larder/freezer, now would be a good time to find out and clear out.