BOISE, Idaho — A shortage in supplies is making operations challenging for restaurants and food trucks in the Treasure Valley.
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and businesses begin opening up, the demand for supplies is high as business has picked up considerably. In addition to staffing shortages, restaurants are now facing supply shortages.
Yvonne Anderson-Thomas has owned the Brown Shuga Soul Food food truck in Boise for more than ten years. She says it has been a struggle to find a lot of necessary supplies to run her food truck, such as styrofoam containers, cups and plates,
“You might get a shipment in and then the next day, it’s gone for a week or so," Anderson-Thomas said about her food supplier. "Last week they hadn't gotten a truck in a week and a half and the shelves were empty."
Not only are certain items hard to find, but Anderson-Thomas said they are more expensive than ever before.
"Gloves are like $100 a case now and they used to be like $30-$40 a case,” she said.
The increase in price has drastically cut profits but raising prices for customers can be a challenge too.
"We go there, we sit, we buy all that food, we pay our employees. I have to buy all the supplies, and I have to pay for gas for the generator for this food truck and for my diesel pick-up truck," she explained. "So I’m already out $500-$600 before I get to the event, and then I have to wait and figure out, okay is anybody going to come?"
As an alternative, she has been turning to catered events, something she said is more predictable. Typically, she is paid in advance and therefore is able to buy supplies ahead of time, versus showing up to an event, hoping for the best.
She is hopeful that her business will still run strong and customers will understand. However, relying on large events to make a living can be uncertain, especially as large gatherings are threatened by the fourth surge of COVID-19 cases.
“If we shut down again, I think it’s going to be a not very good situation," Anderson-Thomas said. "We are just starting to get back to work, so if that happens again I don’t know, I can’t even imagine."
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