By Jaewon Kang and Annie GasparroU.S. grocers aren't keeping up with customers who are emptying their shelves amid angst over the new coronavirus. Food companies had been preparing for greater demand, but the surge was higher and faster than expected, executives said. Executives say they are confident near term they can meet demand, especially now that many households have "pantry loaded." The manufacturers of toilet paper and other items flying off store shelves say they are ramping up production to meet higher demand for their household essentials and long-lasting foods. John Church, chief supply chain officer at General Mills Inc., said his team is making last-minute changes to where it sends inventory to meet demand.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 14, 2020 14:48 UTC