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In Sweden, there is currently no food shortage, and rural minister Jennie Nilsson seems certain that food shortages should not wait any longer during the crown crisis.
– Right now, it’s about securing flows so that we can handle changing consumer behaviors. Products that normally go to hotels and restaurants may need to go to the supermarket. Consumer behavior has changed as you buy less in restaurants and more in stores. At the start of the crisis, we were able to see some bunkering trends, but my image is that it died out pretty quickly, ”she says.
Self-sufficiency in toilet paper
Sweden is completely self-sufficient with toilet paper, so just when the product became widely fueled, in retrospect it may seem a bit strange. But what does Jennie Nilsson say about other assets? Is it a situation for Swedish consumers to start looking for something else?
– I do not recommend anyone to bunker. There is nothing we see that is necessary. However, everyone – and this is not just the case during the crown crisis – should always have food at home so they can cope for a week or two. Then it comes to dry products like pasta, crusty bread, some canned food, some frozen products.
Don’t worry about the coffee
Sweden imports almost half of all food from other countries, and some products, such as coffee and kiwi, we do not produce at all. However, Jennie Nilsson doesn’t seem particularly concerned that coffee at the coffee shop across the country suddenly starts drinking her own.
– We all have a strong interest in all EU countries to ensure that the flow of goods works and it has been an early problem to ensure that the flow of goods works. We have an extremely close dialogue with the entire food chain several times a week and the product flows are working well. Products take longer to arrive, but they arrive.
How close to rationing times would you say we are?
– We are constantly working to identify problems later to prevent them and, of course, we have plans for all eventualities, but I do not see rationing during this crisis. But there is room to make rationing decisions if necessary.
Reintroducing an emergency stock in the form of department stores with cereals and preserves is not relevant, according to Jennie Nilsson.
– Today we have systems where Ica, Coop and others have central department stores with a variety of products that they constantly replenish. My image is that it works incredibly well right now.
Inventory of chemical products.
If any type of stock may be relevant to discuss, these are products such as chemicals, soy protein for food, machine parts for the processing industry, and seeds for crops. This allows us to maintain our natural food chain in the country and continue to produce, refine and deliver.
One of the challenges for Sweden at the moment is the uncertainty factors related to fruit and vegetables.
– We use many seasonal workers from other countries in this industry, so one challenge we are working on a lot right now is how we provide staff in this situation.
Isn’t it relevant for Swedes to take those jobs then?
– Well, it really should be. I can only say that it will be incredibly difficult for people to travel in the future, so we have to face domestic work. It is also important to be clear that if you are unemployed you are expected to accept a job.
