Are you sick of discussing the pandemic yet?
If you’re like me, there’s an immediate answer and a secondary answer. The immediate answer is “Yes!” (And, yes, that exclamation point is part of the answer.)
The secondary answer, though, is “No.” The effects of the pandemic continue to ripple and provide both opportunity and anxiety in the global supply chain.
Trade publications have reported that companies such as Maersk — the shipping container giant — are seeing record revenues as shipping companies try to reduce the backlog of goods that need to be shipped. However, there are a finite number of ships with a finite amount of space to hold those containers. So while container revenue is up, that doesn’t automatically mean that everything is good.
Here at ACS, we see it when we take inventory for one of our partners in order for them to restock an item. We have seen challenges at every step along the supply chain. For starters, the producer may not have enough on-site employees to make the item. If the product gets made, there may not be enough workers to get it packed and in a container. If the product gets made and packed, there may be delays in shipping because of the backlog. And if that isn’t enough, if the product makes it to our shores, there may not be enough workers to get the product off the ship and onto a truck in a timely fashion.
As you can see, there are a lot of factors to discuss, and we work with our customers to help ease as much of the burden as we can.
So while some parts of the pandemic have seemed to relax — at least of this writing — the impacts will be felt for a while. When you go into the store looking for something specific and find an empty shelf or low stock, be patient. Trust me when I say that the overseas company, the local grower, the producer, the store and, yes, even the cold storage warehouse that connects all those parts — are all working hard to make sure it gets to you.
This column is sponsored by Adams Cold Storage, LLC, and the opinions expressed herein may not reflect those of CFAN or its advertisers.
Bio: Ben Adams, Jr., is an owner and president of Adams Cold Storage, LLC, in Auburndale. He has been directly involved in citrus production, warehousing and distribution, as well as state and community support, since 1980. His facility incorporates 250,000 square feet of multitemperature warehousing and is AA rated by BRCGS.