Hole said it became really problematic about a week ago. Reports of a shortage led to shoppers coming in to purchase sugar by the cartloads. This led Boundary to adopt a rationing policy. Each shopper is only allowed one bag of each brown, white and icing sugar each trip. This is across all of the Boundary Co-ops in all communities. As Hole stated it helps keep the sweetener on the shelves.
He said Federated is taking each store’s orders, and rationing the sugar out to each of them. The orders Boundary receives come from the warehouse in Winnipeg. The situation of panic buying reminds him of a few short years ago during the pandemic.
“It is pretty much like the toilet paper situation we had.”
The demand for sugar is always high, but especially with the Christmas baking season coming. Hole knows it will have an impact, although they are hoping the situation will hold until then.
“I think it will,” he stated. “There are no other places to get it. Brandon is in the same situation. Federated is in the best position, but eventually we will run right out. We’re hoping it lasts until Christmas, but no guarantees.”
Of course, if someone in Boissevain and area is purchasing baking for the Yuletide season, the situation is much rosier. Alannah Moody, owner and operator of the Boissevain Bakeshop has her bases covered for the present, in part due to good planning and different circumstances. She said she received a text about the situation on October 26 from friends at Kuiper’s in Brandon. Moody had just ordered a pile of sugar, which helped. As well, the fact the shortages were limited to one company was beneficial initially.
Moody said she uses Redpath Sugar, which is not impacted by the strike. This gave her an advantage at the outset.
“I was okay,” Moody explained, “and then I got my aunt and uncle in Winnipeg to stockpile some for me just in case.”
Using a different supplier helped, but eventually when there is a shortage with one company, shoppers will move to another. Moody said her aunt and uncle found this when they were picking up that on the last trip they could not get any more golden yellow.
However, between her orders and her family’s help, Moody has a good stockpile. Some is still in the provincial capital, but much is in the bakery. It is in the same place the sugar is always kept, the piles are just higher. She said she has gathered plenty of all of it, with an emphasis on the icing sugar. Overall, it is all-important.
“Sugar and flour are the big ones for a bakery.”
Moody feels she should be okay until February, and will order more if the situation does not clear up by then. This means Yuletide baking is secure. She added she has not heard too much from anyone else about a sugar panic before Christmas.
“I’m glad I was able to get ahead of it before the problem,” she said.
This week, Rogers Sugar asked for mediation for the labour action, and the union agreed. However, if and when this will have an impact is anyone’s guess. Moody said she had no idea when it would clear up, and Hole agreed.
“We don’t know when the strike will end, no idea,” Hole stated. “When the strike ends, then they have to start producing again, which will take time.”
He added Federated is looking for other supplies in the US or Eastern Canada. Rogers is currently the only sugar Boundary has, and the company does have other refineries in the country.
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff