Blockade of trucks, in Campania there is a rush to stock up on supermarkets

The blockade of hauliers is also showing its effects on supermarket shelves. Five days of protest against expensive fuel and an inconvenience which, from a supply problem, is becoming social.

In Naples, Caserta and Salerno, both in the city and in the province, we work on stocks: those in the shops and those that families are starting to accumulate in the pantries. Above all, the products that no longer exist tell the story. Eggs are difficult to find, meat is scarce, refrigerators show entire compartments empty and, in some supermarkets, even the vegetable counters are empty of goods.

But photography these days is also made up of what ends up in the shopping carts. We buy more than we need, for fear that tomorrow there may be nothing left. It is mostly pasta that ends up in families' stocks. Yet, there are no particular supply problems for long-life products and canned foodstuffs.

The shelves are stocked thanks to warehouse stocks, but the fear that the blockade could continue pushes people to buy today what they might need in a week's time.

The situation varies from one supermarket to another, but the fresh produce departments are lacking everywhere. Things are better in small distribution, where direct relationships with local producers make it possible to at least partially offset the obstacles to supplies.

"They told us that from tomorrow the situation should improve, in the meantime we also had to disconnect some refrigerators. It feels like we are reliving the Covid period, there is a rush on supplies", explains an employee of a well-known Italian supermarket chain. "We have seen expenses exceeding 200 euros.

People are afraid and have come to stock up. As far as vegetables are concerned, those who have direct contact with small local producers obviously have an advantage", he adds.

The same concern is found at petrol pumps, where managers are observing a change in drivers' habits. "Until recently they asked how much per liter had gone up before refueling, now they fill up without distinction for fear of not being able to use the car due to lack of fuel", say the petrol station attendants. And there are also those who, left without supplies, are forced to send motorists away. When asked when the fuel will return, the answer is: "Hopefully soon."

Meanwhile, in the area, the hauliers' protest continues amidst blockades and traffic disruptions, yesterday also affecting access to the commercial port of Naples through the Bausan gate. This morning the garrison, still operational on multiple fronts, moved from the Median Axis to the External Circumvallazione, between Casoria and Afragola.