Valley stores remain optimistic amid increase in demand for various products due to port strike

Mahoning Valley & U.S. - Several news outlets across the U.S. are reporting a recent spike in demand for various essential products amid a port workers strike. 21 News caught up with Valley grocery stores to see how business was going here at home.
21 News reached out to multiple local grocery stores including Nemenz IGA in Struthers, as well as several Sparkle Market locations across the Mahoning Valley to ask about an influx in customers buying essential items like toilet paper and paper towels in anticipation of potential shortages.
Nearly every store we've reached out to told us they were not experiencing nor anticipating any shortages and some said they haven't even seen an influx in customers.
A manager at Sparkle Market in Niles told 21 News they have not seen an influx in customers and said she believes people would rather go to a store like Sam's Club where they can buy products in bulk rather than a store where those products are sold in smaller quantities.
21 News also reached out to Sam's Club, where a representative acknowledged an increase in demand for various products, but pointed out that most of these products are made in the U.S.
The warehouse club chain released a statement saying it remains optimistic amid this influx.
"Because of the health of our supply chain network, we remain confident in our ability to deliver for members," the statement reads.
Giant Eagle also provided 21 News with a statement saying it's too soon to know if there will be any shortages, but in the event of any shortage, the chain plans to work with its supply partners to maintain the highest level of availability.
The statement says Giant Eagle does not anticipate any immediate impacts to product pricing.