The shortages will get worse. Could also be tariffs. For instance if imported containers or ingredients push the wholesale price higher than Kroger wants to pay for this local market.

Not all the empty spots were perishable.

Dumped fresh off the truck, 33 cent’s each..they have a hot Deli, plus all kinds of salads and Bakery.

Kroger is Union.

Most produce is local. I am heading there today.
Kroger is in serious trouble. Low and stale merchandise.
I actually had to demand lines be opened after following a young woman setting a sale that should have been set 2 days ago..
Customers had been waiting for a half hour with full baskets while I shopped. End of the month customers using their food allowance. Before it runs out. The young girl was ticked at me, but I ignored her. I had a clerk in 30 seconds but they do not schedule right..I go to Walmart, always plenty of help. They are going back to service.

I joined Walmart plus, can order and get my groceries in less than 2 hours.
Walmart is also opening stores that are just for delivery. Their meat is fresh,good brands and decent prices.

But hey, those former owners of small businesses can always go work for Walmart.

In this day and age .Amazon already proved that.
I do what is best to survive today.
We can not go back.
Retail has changed completely, making it easier for people,
I welcome having things delivered to my door in an hour or so.

Ralph’s, which is owned by Kroger’s, just announced the closure of 60 stores.

Walmart changed drastically. Others are doing the same.the stores are now full of people shopping for customer home delivery.

I have ever seen. Most is well past its prime. Their prices are terrible. When I walk in the front door, I smell the stench of rotting meat. The meat department is in the back.

I shop the Kroger in Milford MI, although not exclusively any longer. I find the Meijer is cheaper and I like their MPerks.
Our local Kroger has struggled with keeping shelves stocked since the pandemic. This store continues to remove products and doesn't stock them again. So many times when you enter you getting with the smell of raw sewage. A manager said that it's from them cleaning the grease trap in the deli.
I still go because our prescriptions are there and we have a great relationship with the pharmacists.

But Kroger has a lot of problems and the majority of my shopping is done at Meijer.

Hope it's a one-off, like one of the trucks failed to deliver.

Economy manipulation. Fewer ships in harbors and fewer trucks on the road.

screwing Americans

They want anyone who is not one of the 'anointed' (read: rich) to die off. They are too cowardly to actually do this themselves, so they have designed a plan to literally starve us out and allow us to die from ailments that we cannot afford to address.

And, we are sitting here letting them.

uses -- threaten them. It apparently works for Repugs. I worked on the Hill -- swamping members with phone calls can work.

I shop at two grocery stores in my area. Schnucks sometimes have empty shelves and sparse produce. The other one Dierbergs is always stocked up with produce with very little empty shelves. I know Dierbergs is always advertising agreements with local farmers when that produce is in season. Maybe that is why they always are stocked. Not sure if Schnucks does the same with local farmers.

PS I find the produce better at Dierbergs than anyplace else in my area.

For well over a week. This is not normal!

Not sure what else might be out of stock as I order through Instacart.