With the passing of Cyclone Yasi it only means the clean-up begins.
And for retailers that also means preparing emergency shipments of essentials stock for supermarket shelves.
Both Woolworths and Coles are still on the ground and have begun assessing the condition of stores, indicating little damage was done except Woolworths at Mission Beach suffered some roof damage.
According to Margy Osmond, Australian National Retailers Association CEO, days before the cyclone, major supermarkets worked around the clock to resupply stores in northern Queensland.
“Our major supermarkets always plan for increased demand and some nervous over-purchasing during the cyclone season in northern Queensland. This year the capacity to stock for the expected cyclone season has been impacted by the earlier floods which have affected the usual supply plans for this time of the year,” she said.
“The needs of the people of northern Queensland are uppermost in the minds of the key retailers and they will continue their efforts to keep stock levels up.”
Retailers are working closely with the Queensland Government via Emergency Management Queensland, the Premier’s office and local disaster management authorities. A retail emergency group has been formed to work through the impact of these cyclones.