Israeli Supermarkets Brace for Holiday Shortages of Dairy, Poultry, and Eggs

Israeli supermarkets may experience temporary shortages of certain products, including milk, fresh dairy products like cottage cheese, eggs, and fresh chicken meat, due to the shortened work week preceding Yom Kippur and preparations for Sukkot. These disruptions are expected primarily in items with short shelf lives, affecting industries reliant on regular production, slaughter, and delivery.

Industry leaders emphasize that a general deficit across all food categories is not anticipated. Rami Levy, a prominent figure in the retail sector, stated that any shortages would likely be brief, lasting only a few hours, and mainly impacting chicken supplies. He noted a current surge in demand, exacerbated by pre-holiday and pre-Shabbat shopping, with restocking expected by Sunday.

Oren Sapir, CEO of Sapir Group (Neto Hisachon, Super Sapir), highlighted the vulnerability of fresh dairy products due to their short shelf life and reduced production days. He explained that the issue stems not only from the holidays themselves but also from reduced operations at slaughterhouses and among slaughter workers during Chol HaMoed, the intermediate days of Sukkot. This means supermarkets will have only three working days instead of the usual five to prepare for Sukkot.

In the religious sector, strict kosher requirements may further impact the availability of fruits and vegetables, particularly for chains adhering to more stringent certifications. Sapir also indicated that dry goods might see some effects due to additional days off granted by many companies to their employees.

However, some retailers have proactively managed inventory. Yossi Schwartz, CEO of City Market, reported that his chain prepared by building up stock, anticipating potential supply limitations. Major companies like Tnuva, Strauss, and Osem are reportedly continuing operations during Chol HaMoed, except on the eve of holidays, ensuring a steady supply of chilled products. Despite these measures, some shortages of white cheeses, cottage cheese, and certain protein yogurts have already been observed, with demand for cottage cheese reportedly up by double digits.

Following Yom Kippur, bakeries may struggle to meet immediate post-fast demand, leading to potential temporary shortages of bread and baked goods, with full supplies expected by midday.