Sunshine Coast and Noosa butchers, fruit shops and seafood markets with stock

Major supermarket chains are struggling with stock as Covid-19 has caused massive staff and supply shortages. Here’s where to find supplies on the Sunshine Coast and Noosa:

Several Sunshine Coast businesses have been able to keep up with demand despite a supply shortage crippling major chains during the latest wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many butcher, fruit shop and seafood market operators say they’ve been operating as per normal despite supermarket shelves being bare following major disruptions to the nation’s supply chain.

The revelations triggered calls for Australia’s defence force to address crippling worker shortages.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned the defence force was not a “shadow workforce” that could be deployed to plug staff shortages across the country.

Instead, the national cabinet agreed to loosen close contact isolation rules for a range of industries, including health, emergency services, utilities, transport, freight, service stations and resources, bringing Australia closer in line with other nations.

Supplies of dairy, meat, chicken, fruit, vegetables and toilet paper have been limited since January 11.

Anne Albeck of Fruits of Noosa has been able to keep up with the local demand during the supply shortages at the big chain supermarkets. Picture: Patrick Woods

Fruits of Noosa owner Anne Albeck said her stock of bread, fruit, vegetables and general groceries were as per normal and her store had experienced no disruptions.

“We’ve got a general range of products and we don’t have a shortage of anything which means we have lots of toilet paper, as that seems to make a difference,” she said.

“Our stock and supply has been perfectly normal and I think it’s because we deal with the same buyers and sellers.

“I think a lot more people are coming to the smaller shops which seem to have everything they need.”

Woolworths have started placing limits on certain items as shelves in the meat section at a Queensland Coles is nearly empty. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Woolworths and Coles have again placed limits on certain items in an attempt to meet the demands of as many customers as possible.

Cotton Tree Meats director Luke Dunn said sales were up 40 per cent across the board.

“We’ve still got everything in stock and it’s a higher grade too compared to what’s sold in the supermarket,” he said.

Caloundra Seafood Market owner Matt Taylor said his team was working extra hard in the current environment.

“We’ve got our boats working daily and they’re bringing in heaps of fresh reef fish, prawns, crabs, bugs and our oysters that we bring up have been in good supply too,” he said.

“There’s heaps of stock and we definitely won’t run out given the slow supply to the major chains.”

To start with we would like to thank everyone for their on going support and appreciation over the festive period and...

Posted by Noosa Outlook Prestige Meats on Thursday, January 13, 2022

Noosa Outlook Prestige Meats staff member Cameron Prosser has posted a video on social media urging customers to support local.

The clip, which went viral, had been viewed more than 12,000 times and had received more than 300 likes.

Mick’s Meat Barn owner Mick Templeman said he was also concerned foot traffic would drop off once Covid-19 restrictions eased again.

“We’ve obviously had the overflow of people that can’t get their stuff from the supermarkets come here and we haven’t had any dramas there,” he said.

“What worries me is once people have filled their freezers and the supermarkets come back online where does that leave us?

“Hopefully we have made enough friends over that time so that they keep coming back as repeat customers.”

A number of other independent operators such as Choice Discount Store, selected service stations, Night Owls and 7-Eleven convenience stores are stocking toilet paper.

Toilet paper stacked high at the Choice Discount Store at Noosa Civic. Picture: Eddie Franklin

White's IGA Group company director Roz White said customers should shop for “alternative variants” when it came to canned or packaged food.

“We’ve still got good supply coming through but to maintain a good and particularly fresh supply level we just have to shop around a lot more among our suppliers,” she said.

“If you can’t get your first choice there should be another variant available and that’s the same for things like toilet paper as we’re grabbing what we can.

“My message to customers is that if your first choice isn’t available look around or just ask a staff member when it’s due to be restocked.”