H-E-B doesn't expect 'any customer impact' yet from emerging ports strike

AUSTIN (KXAN) — H-E-B customers aren't expected at this time to feel any price impacts while shopping at the Texas grocer amid the an emerging dock workers strike impacting East and Gulf Coast ports, a spokesperson for the company said Tuesday evening.

The spokesperson added the grocery chain is regularly poised and prepared for possible supply chain impacts at any given time, adding most products sold by the company won't be impacted by this strike.

"We do not anticipate any customer impact from the port strike at this time. Our team has been working with suppliers for weeks to serve Texans," the spokesperson's email read in part. "Our stores are receiving shipments and are in a strong position that allows our Partners to continue to restock shelves throughout the day."

Dockworkers began walking picket lines early Tuesday at the onset of the strike, after a contract between the ports and thousands of members of the International Longshoremen's Association expired at midnight, according to the Associated Press. It marked the union's first strike since 1977, with the latest centered around wages and automation, per AP reporting.

Wednesday marked day two of the strike, with CNBC reporting President Joe Biden's administration wouldn't invoke the Taft-Hatley Act to mandate dockworkers return to work. The strike could pave the way to supply chain congestion and delays as well as customers facing higher prices for goods, per CNBC.

A spokesperson for The Home Depot told KXAN Wednesday many retailers have contingency plans in place and activated them prior to the onset of the strike "to limit disruption and shield consumers from the ripple effects." The spokesperson did note that could prove more difficult, should the dockworkers' strike extend over a longer period of time.

"To the extent that we can plan for this type of supply chain disruption, retailers have done everything they can to limit the immediate effects. In most cases, retailers activated their supply chain contingency plans in advance of the strike, rerouting shipments to the West Coast or moving shipment dates up to avoid significant delays," said Jess Dankert, vice president of supply chain for the Retail Industry Leaders Association, in a statement. "There remains uncertainty about the length of the strike, ripple effects, and its long-term impacts, but retailers are monitoring the situation closely and will shield consumers from impacts as long as they can. It is critical for the parties to reach an agreement and reopen the gateways that handle roughly half of US imports and exports."

KXAN also reached out to Amazon, Costco and Best Buy for comment on any possible impacts at this time. We will update this story if we receive responses from those companies.