AUSTIN, TX – Following the recent in-store food shortages at some Whole Foods locations, Business Insider spoke with a few employees on what they felt was causing the shortages and how they and consumers have been impacted.
Employees stated that they felt the problems came before the Amazon Whole Foods acquisition, as a result of order-to-shelf buying systems implemented by Whole Foods last year. While these systems are meant to stream-line inventory stocking, the machine's strict procedurals have led to storewide stocking issues. According to article, analysts have speculated that the shortages could be due to a spike in shopper traffic spurred by the acquisition. It appears that there may be much behind the corporate curtain that we have yet to see.
“At my store, we are constantly running out of products in every department, including mine,” an Assistant Department Manager of an Illinois Whole Foods said in an interview with Business Insider. “Regional and upper store management know about this. We all know we are losing sales and pissing off customers. It's not that we don't care—we do. But our hands are tied.”
This assistant manager was not alone in her concern. Several other employees spoke to Business Insider as well.
"The system is now set up to pretty much only have enough product to keep the shelf full and no extra,” said an employee from Sacramento, CA. “I get constant and consistent complaints from customers for continuously being out of staple [products]. It's frustrating as an employee and also as a shopper."
Many employees who spoke to Business Insider voiced a similar concern, stating that their work since the machines has been “a really high-stakes exam.” Despite these allegations, Whole Foods Vice President of Operations Ken Meyer feels that the OTS system reflects progress.
“It's creating a really strong, efficient process from the way the goods are received in the back door to bring them right out to the shelf,” said Meyer. “And it's really improving and helping our out-of-stocks as well—dramatically.”
Many Whole Foods employees are hopeful that Amazon will adress the issue shortly. AndNowUKnow will report as more information becomes available.
