Due to the security situation, employee absences and consumer demand, a shortage of food chain branches began on Sunday. This shortage is expected to increase over time.
Shoppers empty shelves at Rami Levy branches due to the coronavirus // Photo: Moshe Ben Simhon
Rami Levy told Israel Hayom: "In the meantime, we are receiving goods. There is a shortage of milk and we are waiting for the Minister of Finance to approve the continued import of milk, since I have to give an answer to the overseas dairy whether to produce."
"In the meantime, we ordered and are importing milk for this week. We import only because there is a shortage and therefore we need to know, in terms of a work plan for the manufacturer. We need to serve the people of Israel and we need to give a work plan to the manufacturer."
It should be noted that today there were no poultry in the food chains. On Sundays there are usually no poultry in the branches. However, in light of the fact that there was a shortage of workers in the slaughterhouses today, a shortage is expected tomorrow as well.
"We are waiting for the finance minister to approve the continued import of milk." Rami Levy, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
According to Levy, "Many slaughterhouses depend on workers from the territories. They didn't work or slaughter today, so tomorrow there will be a shortage. We get poultry because we have a slaughterhouse that works with us, which is exclusive and it supplies us. I believe there will be a shortage in the industry, but there will be frozen poultry."
Another source in the field of food chains noted that "all the chains started the morning with fresh departments completely empty, in terms of fresh poultry products, vegetable and fruit products and milk. Dairies were able to supply less than 30% of the points of sale in Israel. Vegetables and fruits will start arriving in drips, but it will take several days to fill the gap, especially in light of the fact that a lot of the produce comes from the war zones in the south."
Another source in the field says: Today there was, and still is, a crazy storming of the branches of all the supermarket chains, grocery stores and more. In addition, many suppliers did not supply goods today."
Sderot on the second day of fighting, photo: Neta Bar
Ministry of Agriculture: Israel has sufficient stocks of eggs, milk and nipples
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Avi Dichter and Ministry Director General Oren Lavi held a number of situation assessments over the past 24 hours as part of the Ministry's preparations for scenarios of harm to the supply of plant and animal food to the public, and in order to ensure functional continuity and food security for the public.
As part of these assessments, it emerged that many workers throughout the supply chain were recruited but did not report for work, which impairs the transportation of various food products to the supermarket chains. In light of this, over the past two days, the ministry's professionals have dealt with a variety of issues dealing with the farmers' ability to come and milk the cows, feed the various farm animals and pick the various vegetables, most of which are concentrated in the Negev fields.
"There is a stock of eggs." Ministry of Agriculture, Photo: GettyImages
Following this preparation, the Ministry of Agriculture noted that chicken coops and cowsheds, except for those that were directly hit and are in the combat zones, have stocks of eggs, milk and nipples. The Ministry is also prepared to assist the supply chain as much as possible, in order to make food accessible to the population.
The Ministry of Agriculture also notes that "the ministry works in cooperation with various bodies, headed by the Home Front Command and Rachel, and instructs farmers to solve problems arising from the field, in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines and security limitations."
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