Tom Branna, Editorial Director05.10.20
Toilet paper, it seems, was just the start. When COVID-19 fears surfaced in the US in early March, consumers panicked and familiar usage patterns crumbled; all because people who normally went at work no longer went to work.
But supply chains were rerouted and soon, toilet paper was rolling out of office and factory lavatories and into home bathrooms. The revamp was completed in weeks, but the latest shortages involving wipes and other sundries may take months, according to the president and CEO of Clorox.
In an interview on the Today Show, Clorox CEO Benno Dorer said it may be June or July before supply catches up to demand.
“In some cases, we sold as much in one week as we normally sell in one month,” explained Dorer.
In fact, demand for Clorox Disinfecting Wipes is up 500%, as factories turn out wipes 24/7 and hire workers to keep up with demand.
During a pandemic, every surface is a candidate for a wipe or two, according to some consumers.
“We know that right now, we cannot make enough product for everybody to find products in stores all the time,” admitted Dorer. “But we are making tremendous progress and we think we think that we will be in substantially better shape by the summer.”
Disinfecting wipes aren’t the only products flying off store shelves. Sales of aerosol disinfectants rose 385% from a year ago and multipurpose cleaners increased 148%. For a closer look at high-flying wipes, scroll to the bottom of the page to view sales data from IRI.
“We have seen triple-digit increases in sales for disinfectants and cleaning products compared to this time last year. This represents unprecedented demand affecting the entire supply chain,” said Brian Sansoni, SVP-communication, outreach and membership, American Cleaning Institute, told Today. “This is an unprecedented event in modern times.”
As reported, the supply chain issues led to shortages of key chemicals and the issue was exacerbated when companies made the correct decision to first supply hospitals and healthcare facilities.
“Companies are working around the clock at maximum capacity in an attempt to provide as many products as possible, but analysts indicate it will likely be summer before we’ll perhaps see some greater availability at the retail level,” Sansoni noted. “There have also been complications from delays in the arrival of key cleaning product ingredients from international markets that have been negatively affecting by the pandemic.”
He pointed out, however, that the cleaning product supply chain is taking the necessary steps to ensure their workforce stays safe while formulating and manufacturing beneficial chemistries and products. They are shifting production lines to help address the greater demand for products.
“There is a great amount of pride throughout the ACI membership in the work being done to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. These products and chemistries do matter and benefit society at-large,” concluded Sansoni. “[Members] are contributing to their communities and to those organizations in greatest need for hygiene and cleaning products.”
To ensure that consumers still properly clean and disinfect surfaces during product shortages, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a product with 70% alcohol to disinfect a surface and 60% alcohol for hand sanitizers.
CDC also issued cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for home and facilities.
But supply chains were rerouted and soon, toilet paper was rolling out of office and factory lavatories and into home bathrooms. The revamp was completed in weeks, but the latest shortages involving wipes and other sundries may take months, according to the president and CEO of Clorox.
In an interview on the Today Show, Clorox CEO Benno Dorer said it may be June or July before supply catches up to demand.
“In some cases, we sold as much in one week as we normally sell in one month,” explained Dorer.
In fact, demand for Clorox Disinfecting Wipes is up 500%, as factories turn out wipes 24/7 and hire workers to keep up with demand.
During a pandemic, every surface is a candidate for a wipe or two, according to some consumers.
“We know that right now, we cannot make enough product for everybody to find products in stores all the time,” admitted Dorer. “But we are making tremendous progress and we think we think that we will be in substantially better shape by the summer.”
Disinfecting wipes aren’t the only products flying off store shelves. Sales of aerosol disinfectants rose 385% from a year ago and multipurpose cleaners increased 148%. For a closer look at high-flying wipes, scroll to the bottom of the page to view sales data from IRI.
“We have seen triple-digit increases in sales for disinfectants and cleaning products compared to this time last year. This represents unprecedented demand affecting the entire supply chain,” said Brian Sansoni, SVP-communication, outreach and membership, American Cleaning Institute, told Today. “This is an unprecedented event in modern times.”
As reported, the supply chain issues led to shortages of key chemicals and the issue was exacerbated when companies made the correct decision to first supply hospitals and healthcare facilities.
“Companies are working around the clock at maximum capacity in an attempt to provide as many products as possible, but analysts indicate it will likely be summer before we’ll perhaps see some greater availability at the retail level,” Sansoni noted. “There have also been complications from delays in the arrival of key cleaning product ingredients from international markets that have been negatively affecting by the pandemic.”
He pointed out, however, that the cleaning product supply chain is taking the necessary steps to ensure their workforce stays safe while formulating and manufacturing beneficial chemistries and products. They are shifting production lines to help address the greater demand for products.
“There is a great amount of pride throughout the ACI membership in the work being done to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. These products and chemistries do matter and benefit society at-large,” concluded Sansoni. “[Members] are contributing to their communities and to those organizations in greatest need for hygiene and cleaning products.”
To ensure that consumers still properly clean and disinfect surfaces during product shortages, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using a product with 70% alcohol to disinfect a surface and 60% alcohol for hand sanitizers.
CDC also issued cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for home and facilities.
