Costco is limiting purchases of meat in advance of what the company expects could be a run on protein and a weaker supply chain to resupply it.
“Costco has implemented limits on certain items to help ensure more members are able to purchase merchandise they want and need. Our buyers and suppliers are working hard to provide essential, high demand merchandise as well as everyday favorites,” the store said on its website.
Fresh meat purchases are temporarily limited to a total of 3 items per member among the beef, pork and poultry products.
Kroger, owner of Fred Meyer, is implementing a similar measures at some of its stores across the country, although it has not announced which stores will have rationed meats.
Tyson, the largest US meat producer, has closed many of its processing plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdowns have led to fewer cuts of meat at stores around the country and rising prices.
“Now, Tyson Foods is facing a new set of challenges. In small communities around the country where we employ over 100,000 hard-working men and women, we’re being forced to shutter our doors. This means one thing – the food supply chain is vulnerable. As pork, beef and chicken plants are being forced to close, even for short periods of time, millions of pounds of meat will disappear from the supply chain. As a result, there will be limited supply of our products available in grocery stores until we are able to reopen our facilities that are currently closed,” John Tyson, CEO, wrote in an essay that was published widely last week.
