I'm trying to figure something out here, regarding baby formula.

[Archae]

A good friend of mine lives in a semi-rural Georgia area, the two local Wal-Marts are constantly out of baby formula.

I live in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and I just got back home from one of our local Wal-Marts.
They had a full display of baby formula, but with one rule:
Only two canisters can be bought, no hoarders.

Why is the Georgia Wal-marts always out of baby formula, while here in Wisconsin it's available?

Just doesn't make sense to me.

BTW, our Wal-Marts in Sheboygan are run competently, clean, and well-stocked.

The Georgia Wal-Marts are run by total incompetents.

Nobody in those stores gives a damn.

[LakeArenal]

1. Walmart in Costa Rica was never short on formula.

Nor were any of the pharmacies. No liMit advisory either.

[mcar]

2. I can't figure any of this out

I went to Walmart today to get groceries. So many shelves were bare - not a drop of milk to be found. No seltzer water or other non-perishables.

Then went to Publix to get what WM didn't have. Shelves were fully stocked.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

4. Could be delivery schedule too

I know my Albertsons was always fully stocked pre Covid, and would get daily deliveries.
Now deliveries are only a couple times a week, and they’re usually pretty depleted before the delivery comes. I think it’s partially store level staffing, partially supply shortages, and partially shipping and supply chain.

[Phoenix61]

5. First of the month.

Paychecks, food stamps, social security etc. all got money on Friday. A different demographic shops at Publix.

[haele]

3. They have their 'just in time ' stock re-order limits too low.

Especially for baby formula.

Either Management or whomever is telling the stores they need to go nearly empty before the can order re-stock, or their deliveries are messed up and they haven't figured out how to adjust for inconsistent deliveries on critical staple items like baby formula.

Haele

[Phoenix61]

6. Or their inventory count is completely screwed.

If the computer shows they have 100 and sales shows they sold 50 is won’t generate an order to restock even if the shelf is bare.