Coronavirus stockpiling coming back, grocery store CEO Stew Leonard says
Toilet paper is in high demand, Stew Leonard said
The trend of stockpiling is making a comeback as coronavirus cases surge in the U.S., according to grocery store chain CEO Stew Leonard.
"You're seeing people stockpiling a little bit," he told FOX Business' Maria Bartiromo on "Mornings with Maria" and he added that shoppers are seeking essential items such as toilet paper and paper towels.
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His comments come on the heels of the U.S. on Wednesday recording a new record for daily virus-related deaths and logging nearly 14 million new cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Shelves in the paper towel and toilet paper section are depleted at a Meijer Store in Carmel, Ind., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Leonard went on to say that despite customers beginning to squirrel away some household staples, there is still “plenty of food.”
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The grocery store chain, he said, is also in the middle of adjusting to a shift in consumer buying habits. During Thanksgiving, Stew Leonard’s saw higher demand for smaller turkeys and a general increase in frozen food purchases. As a result, smaller quantities of other items such as shrimp, cookie and vegetable platters are being offered during the holiday season.
“People in quarantine want to make a cozy, bright, cheerful house,” he said. “So we're seeing the same trends, smaller gatherings, more festive events going on.”
Meanwhile, although in-store traffic is down, “the average order size is way up” as shoppers focus on "restaurant-quality" prepared meals, Leonard said.
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Fox News’ Kayla Rivas contributed to this report.