CNBC ILLUSTRATES HOW AN UNPRECEDENTED PANDEMIC FOREVER ALTERED THE U.S. SUPPLY CHAIN
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., June 24, 2020 – On Tuesday, June 30 at 10pm ET/PT, CNBC presents “Supermarket Shock: Crisis in America’s Food Supply,” an in-depth look at how the supply chain in the U.S. was abruptly disrupted and forever transformed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
In March 2020, as COVID-19 began to spread rapidly across the country, fears of extended food shortages sent consumers flocking to supermarkets in an unprecedented surge of panic buying, emptying shelves of household staples such as toilet paper, pasta, milk and meat. This hour-long original documentary tells the stories of the people who fought to restore the supply chain and keep it moving—from factory and farmworkers to wholesalers and retailers–all the while putting themselves at personal risk of contracting the virus.
“Supermarket Shock: Crisis in America’s Food Supply,” explores how the $682-billion supermarket industry struggled to keep its employees and customers safe from a potentially deadly and easily transmittable disease while it raced to restock. Grocery wholesalers and major suppliers describe the challenge of moving products from factory floor to store shelves amid sudden and unforeseeable spikes in demand, while egg, dairy and other farmers reveal what led to some of the most widely-reported shortages. And in April, large numbers of workers at meatpacking plants began testing positive for COVID-19, raising concerns about plant safety and dangers to public health. Multiple plant closures added strain to the supply chain, as well as financial losses for beef, pork and poultry farmers.
Widespread fear of contracting the virus has also dramatically altered how Americans now shop, as millions have turned to online ordering, store pickup and home delivery. Although online grocery shopping services experienced difficulties adapting to increased demand, industry experts suggest many shoppers will continue to rely on them beyond the pandemic.
“Supermarket Shock: Crisis in America’s Food Supply” highlights the vulnerability of the supply chain in the U.S. when facing an unprecedented global health threat, the supermarket industry’s uneasy reliance on traditional distribution models, and the need for innovation to protect future disruptions. It also illustrates the determination and courage of the millions of workers who put their safety on the line to keep America running.
For additional information and to view early clips from the documentary, visit: cnbc.com/supermarket-shock.
For more information contact:
CNBC
Jennifer Dauble
201-735-4721
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