Andrea Perez-Sobers
Senior Reporter
andrea.perez-sobers@guardian.co.tt
Several supermarkets experienced an increase in consumers buying essential items when Trinidad was placed under a Tropical Storm Alert on Sunday. As news spread of the impending bad weather conditions, people came out of their homes and rushed to several groceries to get water, toiletries, and basic food items.
Supermarket Association president Rajiv Diptee said yesterday that many of the groceries reported that bottled water, toilet paper, and canned foods were the items in demand and assured there are no shortages of products.
“There was a concern given the weather situation that developed on Sunday night, that there may be a slowdown, particularly with delivery trucks, merchandisers, and sales teams on the ground. As far as we know, it’s business as usual. There have been no shortages reported by suppliers, and as such, there are no active concerns right now about any instances of goods shortages,” Diptee said.
He also addressed concerns about price gouging on items in high demand. “The membership of the association takes into account that we have to ensure that our customers are taken care of. So as far as I am aware, there are no delinquencies where price gouging is concerned,” the SATT president explained. At Xtra Foods, Group Marketing Manager Daniel Austin said their branches had been busy since Sunday after the announcement, and many people were purchasing the essential items.
“A lot of the items on specials, especially water and detergent, and some of the necessities, such as flour and rice ... people are taking heed to the weather conditions, and they have been buying a lot,” Austin said.
He said the bread stands were empty on Sunday night and had to be restocked yesterday. Austin added that there was no price gouging or any attempt to take advantage of consumers.
Over at Kelly’s Supermarket in Diego Martin, one of the managers, who wished not to be named, said there was a steady flow of people yesterday stocking up on water, toilet paper, rice, sugar, flour, and candles.
“People only seemed to take the message that we were under a Tropical Storm Alert seriously yesterday, as Sunday there was a trickle of people,” the manager said.
And, at JTA Supermarket in Marabella, one of the managers, who only gave her name as Natalie, outlined that there was a rush of customers on Sunday and yesterday as they purchased candles, batteries, water, and canned foods.