With the growing concerns related to a second Covid-19 pandemic, some are once again worried about pandemic buying and product shortages. Experts however, say that shortages in late 2020 and 2021 will likely not be focused on particular supplies (like food), but more on lifestyle items like workout/sports equipment and luxury indoor items.    

Speaking to CTV, Diane J. Brisebois, Retail Council of Canada president and CEO said “the bottleneck won’t be people buying tons of toilet paper. It will be the supply chain trying to adjust to changes in lifestyles and discretionary spending habits.” While items like fireplace inserts and billowy harem trousers may be hard to come by in the coming months, experts say groceries and essential items are in good supply.

“The food industry has been preparing for months for a potential second wave,” said Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food distribution and policy and director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University. “If there are more lockdowns, the food industry is even better equipped now than during the first wave.”