December 2021
From small boutiques to big-box stores, “Out of Stock” signs have become part of the scenery—and Cool&Simple is no exception. What started as a health crisis has quickly turned into a global supply chain crisis. But what’s behind these widespread product shortages?
The answer lies in a disrupted supply chain—impacted by the pandemic and amplified by climate change.
Factory Closures
During the pandemic, many factories were forced to shut down temporarily due to outbreaks or lockdowns, creating massive production delays that will take months to recover from.
Container Shortages
For businesses relying on imports, logistics have become a major challenge. The global economic rebound led to a surge in exports, causing bottlenecks in ports around the world. Containers are now tied up for longer periods, driving up transportation costs and delaying deliveries.
Even local product supply is affected, as key materials and ingredients often come from abroad. For example, most bottles used by Quebec’s maple syrup producers are imported from China—so even they’ve been hit by delays in their supply chain.
Port Congestion
Some major ports shut down due to outbreaks, while others were impacted by natural disasters. Increased health inspections for cargo and crews are also slowing the movement of goods. At ports like Los Angeles (the largest in North America) and Vancouver (Canada’s biggest), container ships are often stuck waiting for weeks before they can unload.
Truck Driver Shortages
Across major importing countries, there’s a severe shortage of truck drivers needed to move containers inland. Countries like the UK have tried to attract drivers with temporary visas—but with limited success.
Climate Change
The rise in natural disasters is affecting both production and transportation of raw materials. Last summer’s heatwaves and droughts lowered the water level of the St. Lawrence River, forcing cargo ships to carry fewer containers to reduce weight. This not only reduced the amount of merchandise entering the country but also increased shipping costs.
That same drought affected Canada’s agricultural output, leading to higher food prices and reduced availability. And recent flooding in British Columbia will unfortunately have long-lasting effects on the supply chain in the months to come.
How Cool&Simple is Adapting
As you know, we’re all about great taste and quality—no compromises. To continue bringing you the best products despite the challenges, Cool&Simple has adapted by placing orders 3 to 6 months in advance. For instance, to make sure your holiday favourites were in stock, our procurement manager placed Christmas orders… in June!
Because you loved our pommes dauphines and pommes noisettes so much this year, we sold out quickly. The same goes for our Quebec turkey and turkey roasts. But not to worry—our Holiday Collection still includes delicious local options unaffected by these issues, such as our stuffed Cornish hen and cooked duck breast.
We’re also working hard to bring even more delicious local products to your table.
Thank you, dear customers, for your patience, loyalty, and flexibility.
Happy Holidays to all,
—The Cool&Simple Team