Supermarkets forced to throw food out after hours without electricity

Ritchie’s IGA has revealed they’ve been left with no choice but to throw out food after yesterday’s storm cut electricity to their stores.

Chief executive officer, Fred Harrison, says staff did their best to get generators to stores across Victoria.

“But we weren’t able to get them for all stores and as a consequence we’ve lost considerable stock overnight and into this morning,” he told Jacqui Felgate.

Press PLAY to hear how much stock they’ve lost

He also says generators are becoming part of the mainstream as the weather becomes more unstable.

“We have probably spent $1.5 million in the last 12 months on bringing generators to our stores,” he said.

A Coles spokesperson has also reported they’ve been forced to throw food out.

“The food we are disposing of is unsafe for sale or to be donated to food rescue charities,” they said.

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