Carpenters Fiji Limited Director and General Manager, Kunaseelan Sabaratnam says some traders who operate shops in settlements and even in rural areas started stocking up on sugar as soon as the first lockdown was announced and this resulted in short supply of sugar in MH Supermarkets.
Sabaratnam says they do wholesale to other businesses and did not anticipate the lockdown and that their sugar stock will run out.
He says there are no issues with the Fiji Sugar Corporation and they are getting normal sugar supplies.
Sabaratnam adds they now have sugar in MH Supermarkets however they are only selling to retail customers with a limit.
He says customers are also panic buying and this also had an impact on their stocks.
Shop N Save Director Nisheel Deo says they have got sugar from Labasa and Lautoka and their trucks are bringing the stock on a daily basis.
Nausori based Pak N Save's Director Prashil Verma says they had to deal with major logistical issues while bringing sugar from Lautoka as they had to change drivers at all the lockdown checkpoints.
He says they also have to hire trucks to bring sugar from Lautoka and also obtain necessary passes for the trucks and all these take time.
Verma says they now have sugar in stock however will be limiting bulk buying.
