Rowe’s IGA Supermarkets will delay opening until 9 a.m. March 18 because of a changed delivery schedule.
It will then maintain hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
“My main supplier just confirmed no deliveries tonight, they will be the a.m.,” owner Rob Rowe said late March 17.
“We are forced to open two hours later in order to restock.”
Area grocery stores have been adjusting their operating hours because of the new coronavirus.
Rowe said the usually opening is 7 a.m. The store will close at 10 p.m. as usual.
“We will do this every day until this passes – 9 to 10 are our new hours,” Rowe said. “Stock and logistics are a real challenge.”
Jacksonville-based Rowe’s IGA Supermarkets operates five stores in Northeast Florida, comprising four in Duval County and one in Clay County.
Rowe said the supplier is a day behind and that might extend more.
He said the supplier is processing almost 300 more loads a day and working 12-hour or longer shifts.
“The entire system is working around the clock trying to make it happen,” he said. “Its capacity and supply cannot and will not meet the demand for some time.”
Rowe said if the “stock-up” mentality eases, supply will return.
“Until that happens, the system will be stressed and overloaded.”
Publix reduces hours
Publix Super Markets also announced that beginning March 18 it will open one hour later.
The new Publix hours are 8 a.m.to 8 p.m. daily.
"Thank you for your understanding as we provide our store teams additional time to conduct preventive sanitation and to restock our shelves," the company said on its website.
This is the second reduction in hours for Publix, which previously trimmed its closing time from 10 p.m.
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