Freezers Sell Out as Consumers Stock Up

And Lowe’s said in a statement on Saturday that it has “seen increased customer demand for freezers, and our team is working around the clock to replenish inventory.”

In a statement with coronavirus business updates, Best Buy’s chief executive referenced increased freezer sales.

“We are seeing a surge in demand across the country for products that people need to work or learn from home, as well as those products that allow people to refrigerate or freeze food,” said the executive, Corie Barry.

Smaller stores, however, appear to face a steeper task when it comes to restocking.

At MD Broadway Electronics in the Bronx, Marcos Diaz said he sold out of freezers in the last two weeks.

Mr. Diaz, who has owned the store for 11 years, said he didn’t have many freezers in stock before demand increased. Sales for that appliance typically jump in the summer months after a slow winter. The freezers he had, Mr. Diaz said, would usually last him a few months.

“This was unexpected,” he said on Saturday. “Otherwise, I would have bought a lot of freezers.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/21/business/coronavirus-freezers-sold-out.html