Foster’s Foodland Millicent store has experienced shortages due to COVID related pressures, with meat becoming harder to source.

Manager David Foster said he was working to address shortages to ensure his customers were not caught short.

“Meat is getting harder to source, but we are able to use multiple suppliers to keep the quantity up.

“We also have the benefit of being able to source beef, lamb and pork locally,” he said.

“Some areas on the shelfs are missing products, but so far it’s not too bad.

“Toilet paper does not stay on the shelves very long, but supply has not been too bad either.”

Mr Foster attributed shortages to increased shopping and the time difference between orders and deliveries.

Though most stock to the local Foodland store comes from Adelaide, Mr Foster said a lot of the meat was sourced locally.

Everyday there is a delivery with the store utiliwing local freight companies, K&S Freighters and Blue Lake Refrigerated.

Meanwhile, Mr Foster said he has experienced workers that have been close contacts of people that had tested positive for COVID.

“A couple have been close contacts, but luckily we have not had a positive case yet,” he said.

To date Foster’s Foodland has not had to put purchase restrictions in place.

Mr Foster encouraged customers to simply shop as normal.

“We will do everything we can to keep a good range of products on the shelf,” he said.

“Our customers have always been fantastic in response to the shortages, we have never had any trouble with customers.”

Mr Foster is a third-generation manager of the family-owned supermarket, which has been part of the community since 1972.

Based on his experience in the retail industry, Mr Foster said he does not believe the current supply issues are as big as they are being made out to be.