Local
New England Grocery Shelves Empty as AGNE Truck Driver Strike Nears Thanksgiving
A strike by truck drivers and warehouse workers at Associated Grocers Northeast has left independent grocery stores across New England with dwindling stock and empty dairy coolers just weeks before Thanksgiving. The walkout, which began Oct. 17 over a pension dispute, is also hurting local food pantries that rely on store donations.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. â Independent grocery stores across New England are running low on produce, dairy and other staples as a strike by truck drivers and warehouse workers at Associated Grocers Northeast stretches into its fourth week, threatening holiday preparations and local food donations.
The workers walked off the job Oct. 17 after the company withdrew from its pension plan and attempted to replace it with a 401(k) that offers no employer match, according to a union representative. The dispute has cut off deliveries to many independent and local markets that depend on AGNE as their primary supplier.
At Richardson's Market in Portsmouth, N.H., employee Shirley Stretton described the impact in stark terms. "Our cooler back there, the dairy cooler is almost completely empty, and this cooler is almost completely empty," she said.
Stretton said the store typically receives thousands of dollars' worth of produce every Wednesday from an AGNE truck. Last week, no delivery arrived. "They didn't deliver last Wednesday and if they are still on strike, we may not get it this Wednesday and we are running out of stuff," she said.
AGNE issued a statement acknowledging the timing of the labor action. "We recognize the Thanksgiving holidays are quickly approaching, which is a busy time of year for AGNE and its employees," the company said. "However, AGNE has a contingency in place to ensure that we move into the holiday season with certainty of service to meet the expectations and needs of our customers, our vendors and our stores."
Richardson's Market posted a statement on Facebook expressing support for the striking workers while seeking local alternatives to keep shelves stocked. "We firmly believe that the essential workers powering our food system deserve fair working conditions, equitable wages, and secure pensions," the statement read.
Owner Greg Danilowski said he sympathizes with the drivers but is also worried about his customers, particularly with Thanksgiving only weeks away. "We love our driver, Pete. He's great, and we really couldn't be doing this without those people," he said. "We are here, and especially on Thanksgiving and Christmas, we're that last place you can go to stock up on things you forgot."
The strike's effects are rippling beyond the grocery aisle. Richardson's Market regularly donates food to a local pantry, and those deliveries have stopped. "They really need our delivery every week. The owner brings all the food," Stretton said. "And now they're hurting for food."
The standoff highlights the precarious position of independent grocers in New England, many of which rely on a single regional distributor and have limited capacity to absorb supply disruptions. With the holiday season approaching, store owners and workers alike are watching for signs of a resolution â and hoping the shelves won't stay bare for long.