With coronavirus infections steadily rising, 2021 is shaping up as another year of shortages for disposable gloves.
On Jan. 7, the United States reached another grim milestone in the COVID-19 saga, reporting more than 4,000 pandemic-related deaths in a single day. It was the third day in a row of record daily deaths in the U.S. from the disease, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The new year has arrived, but conditions in the disposable glove market are pretty much the same. The best deal out there remains vinyl gloves.
2021 is in the house.
It brought with it, however, an unwelcome guest: disposable glove prices that are likely to go even higher.
With disposable glove demand and supply still tremendously out of balance, one way to meet customers’ needs is with vinyl gloves.
Since the coronavirus pandemic began its worldwide spread in early 2020, the shortage of both nitrile butadiene rubber and natural rubber latex has plagued the disposable glove industry.
Food workers need a lightweight, value-oriented disposable glove that protects against cross-contamination. Synthetic hybrid poly gloves are the right choice.
From food truck burrito makers to those who toil away on food processing assembly lines, basic glove needs are similar. Users need dependable barrier protection that is cost-efficient enough to support frequent glove changes.
Janitorial and sanitation workers are essential to protecting us from COVID-19. Protecting them is just as important. Workers in the janitorial and sanitation industry have always played a key role in protecting our quality of life. But with the current global pandemic showing no signs of dissipating, their contribution takes on a new level of importance. Sanitizing our environments matters more than ever. |
Synthetic hybrid technology combines vinyl with elastomers to produce a disposable glove that is both versatile and value-oriented.
With COVID-19 stretching on for nearly a year and no relief in sight, the disposable glove market faces what may be its greatest challenges ever.
Nitrile and latex products are expensive and hard to come by, largely because of raw material shortages. And the end of 2020—a year many of us will be only too happy to see in the rear-view mirror—is not likely to bring much improvement.
Now is a great time for disposable glove distributors to consider introducing their customers to the many positive qualities of vinyl gloves.
In the world of disposable gloves, nitrile is king.
The material, made from nitrile butadiene rubber or NBR, has become the standard across just about every industry. From medical needs to automotive repair, users in the front lines typically choose nitrile gloves.
If the prediction from a recent Nielsen report that up to 70 percent of groceries in the U.S. will be purchased online by 2023 doesn’t ring alarm bells, the growing presence of Amazon and others in the sector should at least indicate that a sea change is under way. Traditional food service distribution faces one of its biggest challenges to date with the emergence of global, digitally driven competitors poised to cannibalize the sector. Independent food service distributors must act quickly to remain competitive by exploring the benefits of a data-driven distribution model. Thankfully, the digital transformation journey is less complex than many challenges the sector has conquered to date.
Continue reading “Why the Food Service Sector Must Embrace Data-Driven Distribution”
A look at the top food service trends for the year ahead reveals the resilience of the industry in the face of economic or political uncertainty. Faithful to the principles of the so-called “lipstick effect,” consumers might be prepared to tighten the belt in some areas, but remain reluctant to sacrifice simple pleasures. In fact, dining out grew globally at 5.6% in 2017, and will continue to do so as markets in Asia and the Middle East join mature markets in Europe and North America.
In the search to create menus that convert, food service operators know that the “farm to fork” narrative resonates well with customers, meaning a large proportion of the budget is allocated to higher-value proteins and fresh produce. But for their specialist suppliers, dependent on a limited number of product lines, lack of diversity leaves profit margins dangerously exposed. As a result, independent suppliers face a choice between lowering prices to remain competitive, or expanding inventory across verticals to remain agile. Typically, that means a transition from center-of-plate to broadline distribution.
Continue reading “The Benefits of Moving From Center-of-Plate to Broadline Supply”
