Publix is ​​limiting the number of seasonal items that customers can buy as Christmas approaches.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues for various products—and the often inevitable shortages that followed—have been widely reported. From there, the increase in demand caused by seasonal buying habits can also cause serious damage: for example, there is a shortage of pumpkins for Halloween; a shortage of turkey is accompanied by Thanksgiving.

What about Christmas? With two weeks to go, at least one large grocery store has already taken steps to spread the holiday cheers evenly to customers. According to Supermarket News, Publix, the tenth largest US food retailer in terms of sales, has imposed shopping restrictions on many products, including some that can be considered holiday staples.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Publix has restricted canned cranberry sauce. Canned gravy; cream cheese; bacon; rolled breakfast sausage; disposable plates, cups and cutlery; toilet paper; refrigerated snacks (such as Lunchables); sports drinks; aseptic juice (such as Capri Sun); canned cat food Various packaging; according to First Coast News, refrigerated pet food.

Now, as Christmas approaches, a Publix spokesperson confirmed to us that they have further updated their purchase restrictions due to "continuous supply issues and increased holiday demand." Added to the above list are coconut flakes, dairy whipped cream, semi-creamer, frozen pie shells, frozen potato cakes, and canola oil, vegetable and corn oil. According to a company spokesperson, customers can only purchase two of any single item in the above section.

Increasing shopping restrictions before the holidays sounds like an easy way to disappoint customers, but Maria Brous, Publix's director of public relations, doesn't think so. "We are committed to providing our customers with transparent messaging and never want to let them down," she told me via email. "By setting purchase restrictions and communicating clearly on shelves, points of sale, and with our media partners, we provide greater opportunities for more customers to find and be able to purchase items for their favorite holiday recipes."

At the same time, a Publix spokesperson also clarified to First Coast News that there is no set timetable for these restrictions. "The list can be changed to include more items or delete items."

Although Publix made headlines this week, they are not the only supermarkets dealing with pandemic-related issues. Common grocery brands such as Coca-Cola and Grape Nuts have been struggling to maintain inventory in stores across the country. At the same time, as inflation concerns have intensified, some chain stores have begun to hoard products, which may also further exacerbate supply chain problems.