On 31 August, partially empty shelves of food and other goods were observed at the METRO hypermarket in Kryvyi Rih. Local media shared photos and videos from the shopping centre after the chain issued a warning about the loss of part of its stock due to Russian strikes on its logistics network. This refers to the uneven availability of certain items, not to the closure of the shop.
Briefly about the main points
- Local media have shown partly empty shelves at the METRO in Kryvyi Rih.
- The shortage applies to certain items, not the entire range.
- METRO lost part of its stock during the large-scale attack on 20 August.
- The network is reorganising its logistics and has warned of temporary disruptions.
What is the situation like at the shopping centre?
The published images show shelves where only some of the products remain, or where the goods are completely missing. At the same time, the shop has not closed and there is no evidence of a complete halt to supplies.
The official page of the METRO shopping centre in Kryvyi Rih lists the usual opening hours: daily from 08:00 to 21:00. Stock availability may vary depending on stock levels at a particular centre or in a particular region, and on the ability to quickly redirect goods from other warehouses.
METRO is restructuring its supply chains
Following the large-scale Russian attack on 20 August METRO Ukraine announced that it had destroyed part of its stock. The company stated that it was reorganising its supply chains to minimise the impact on customers and partners.
The chain had warned of temporary disruptions to the availability of certain products and delivery times, whilst stating that it would fulfil its obligations to customers. Therefore, the shortage of certain items in Kryvyi Rih may be a delayed consequence of stock losses and changes to supply routes.
The strike has disrupted the logistics operations of several retail chains
The attack targeted, in particular, Kyiv and the Kyiv region, where large logistics complexes, retail chain warehouses and other facilities were damaged. Rescue workers spent a second day fighting large-scale fires at several locations: the scale of the operations was complicated by the vast storage areas and the difficulty in accessing the sources of the blazes.
VARUS, «Fora», Yves Rocher and the manufacturer «Faini Lody» also reported losses of warehouse capacity or stock at that time. Following damage to their warehouses, retailers are altering delivery routes, redistributing products between regions and seeking alternative logistics facilities. As a result, the restocking of product ranges across different shops within the same chain may not be uniform.
