Retailer explains why many shelves are empty.

 

Kmart has issued a statement to its ‘customer community’ explaining why the company is experiencing stock shortages across certain categories and when new supplies will be available.

 

The statement said: During the early stages of Covid-19, demand for much of our loved product softened; as a result, we made a decision to pause inventory shipments. This was an action that many retailers across the country, and even across the globe, took as a way to navigate through the global pandemic. With so much uncertainty around public health and safety; and such severe outbreaks of Covid-19 being reported in places like Italy, Spain and New York, we prepared for similar restrictions here in Australia. Some of the countries where we manufacture our physical products were also put into lockdown at this time, putting production of some of our goods on hold for a period of time.

 

The company said its supplies of home office and furniture would normalise from mid-July.

 

Disgruntled Kmart shoppers have taken to social media to vent their frustration over “row after row” of empty shelves at their local stores.

 

Sharing photos of the bare aisles, Kmart fans said they were shocked to see homewares, toys, kitchen appliances, craft, cooking utensil and stationery sections in some stores empty.

 

One shopper described a nearby Kmart store as a “ghost town”, while another complained her local store had been “empty for weeks”.