Question

Do you anticipate changes in the food supply due to the pandemic?

Answer 1

Following are some of the changes in the food supply caused by the outbreak of Covid-19:

1. Reconfiguration of the supply chain: While the food supply chains across the globe are suffering, the need to reconfigure the model wherein stakeholders in the process do not go for bulk wholesales but towards quick grocery stores and home delivery. Meanwhile, fresh produce would be at the receiving end of this model is adopted.

2. Evaluation of insecurities and scepticism in the supply chain: The outbreak of this pandemic will mandate it for the food supply chains to anticipate the behaviours and the insecurities as the customers become sceptical of everyone. The need for hygiene, less contact and portable and agile supply chain will be the future trend. The supply chain will also delve into what is leading to such behaviours and how we can make them more predictable.

3. Home delivery requiring alliances: COVID-19 has sent shivers across the various sectors and the way how we witnessed a shift in consumer demand away from restaurants, hotels and other food hubs towards the "Food Consumed At Home" will become a norm and the supply chains have to remain prepared to partner with various third-parties who will be important in facilitating that the food gets delivered as per the customer expectations.

4. High cost leading to higher price: The disruption caused by pandemic has mandated the people who are at the helm of affairs to adapt their supply chains to the requirements of the situations which may mean becoming used to frequent lockdowns which may mean temporary shortages to deliver impeccable services requiring high costs. These costs will eventually be added to the final product making it bit coster than what it used to be.