Grocery stores located in the areas most affected by the ice storm were able to open their doors today, because some Quebecers, plunged into darkness for more than 72 hours, no longer have enough to eat.
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This day should allow grocers to absorb the thousands of dollars in losses due to power outages.
They still need to have enough products and employees to open their doors.
“We have the essentials, let’s say, and we have a team that has worked hard since Friday evening, even overnight from Friday to Saturday, to be able to offer the maximum number of products to our customers”, explains in an interview with TVA Nouvelles, Franck Henault, owner of Intermarché Boyer.
The Quebec Food Retailers Association (ADA) recognizes that some products may be missing in some food markets.
“We’re focusing on basics, because people who haven’t had power for a few days, well, they need more basics. So we make sure that these products are available. Other products may be missing. But that’s normal given that there has been a lot of traffic in the last few days, “says Stéphane Lacasse, director of public and governmental affairs at ADA.
Several grocery stores that ran out of power had to throw away large amounts of food.
While the majority of people buy their Easter supplies from grocery store refrigerators, others have chosen to rummage through the dumpsters of these businesses.
“I think it’s a good way to save money. And at the same time, as long as we throw away, we can eat… stock up, ”explains a citizen who collects food thrown in the garbage.
“Freelancers have more options. We can just give. But banners, sometimes, will just order merchants to throw away. But today, in 2023, there is less tolerance for food waste,” says food researcher Sylvain Charlebois of Dalhousie University.
