Shop owners lament short supply of bread for sale

CORONAVIRUS | As the movement control order period enters its second week, various food items including bread appear to be in short supply.

Several traders around Kuala Lumpur told Malaysiakini that they faced difficulties to obtain a supply of bread since the movement control order came into force on March 18.

Malaysiakini's checks around Kepong found several sundry shop owners who claimed they were told by distributors that bread producers were channeling their supplies to major supermarket chains.

Shop owner Alaidin Nur Muhammad said the shortage started several days ago, despite increasing demands.

"Today we have not received our supply of bread, even after several calls to the producer.

"We asked for 300 to 400 packs of bread, but we can't get it. Yet they can deliver to the supermarket up to 2,000 packs.

"In fact, there are bread producing companies that did not deliver anything to us since the order was enforced," he said.

'Maximum capacity production'

According to Alaudin, demand for bread has almost doubled, despite the shortage in supply.

Malaysiakini's checks found that Gardenia and Massimo bread remains as the popular choice and is difficult to find in current time.

Previously, Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd - producer of the Gardenia range of products - had announced that it is unable to increase supplies as its factories are already operating at maximum capacity.

"We would like to inform you that for now, production at Gardenia factories has reached a maximum level.

"Therefore we are unable to increase the supply of our products in the market," it said in a statement.

Meanwhile, another shop owner Kamal Abdullah said he has stopped receiving a supply of bread today, and was unable to meet demand from customers.

"Today producers have stopped delivering bread to us, both Gardenia and Massimo.

"It has been difficult to get supply. Before today when we got it, it was in limited quantities," he said.

"In the current situation when there is bread, typically customers will buy two or three packs each," he added.

Another convenient store staff, who wished to be identified as Mas, similarly said their supply of bread has been reduced to limited amounts.

"We are still getting supplies but not as much as before.

"Usually the bread will come by 7am but it will be sold very quickly," said Mas.

The movement control order from March 18 to March 31 was enforced to flatten the curve or infection rates of the Covid-19 virus. - Mkini