Consumer spending on fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) had been affected by the coronavirus outbreak in a way that was felt for quite some time. Reasons for the transition included a rise in demand for some fast-moving consumer items, modifications to consumption patterns, and a resulting increase in the requirement for stock.
Stock-outs and shortages occurred as people began hoarding necessities for regular use. These include staples like cereal and bread as well as non-perishables like meat and cleaning products like bleach and ammonia. NCSolutions, a company that monitors consumer goods, reports that on April 19, 2019, approximately half of all supermarkets in the United States of America ran out of toilet paper at some time during the day. The significant increase in demand, mostly driven by panic-buying and hoarding, quickly exhausted stockpiles, however, because grocery stores and other retailers normally only stockpile several weeks’ worth of toilet paper in their warehouses. Many people believe that supply chain disruptions are to blame for shortages. However, the truth is that this resulted from a buying frenzy. The average American household of 2.6 people consumes about 409 rolls of toilet paper every year, according to data undertaken by Georgia-Pacific, the manufacturer of both Angel Soft and Quilted Northern brands. In order to remain competitive, organizations today require a supply chain that can rapidly respond to and implement new ideas.