Canada won't be wiped out of toilet paper, says leading manufacturer

A leading Canadian toilet paper manufacturer says its factories are working overtime to meet a surge in demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and vows any shortageswill be short-lived.

"What you're seeing in shortages on shelves with customers is the fact that we have not been able to supply quickly enough to meet the spike in demand," said Dino Bianco, the chief executive officer of Kruger Products.

The Mississauga, Ont.-based company produces about a third of all tissue products in Canada, under brands like Cashmere, Purex,Scotties, White Swan and SpongeTowels.

While the stockpiling to prepare for COVID-19may leave some store shelves bare, Bianco said Canadians shouldn't panic over the possibility the country could run out of toilet paper.

"We're producing it, we've got people working overtime, we're expediting shipments to customers to make sure we continue to service the needs of consumers," he said.

'An interesting challenge'

Kruger first noted a sharp increase in orders for tissueproducts two weeks ago, said Bianco.

In February,Costco alonereported an 11.7per cent increasein sales compared to the same period in 2019, withcustomers purchasing more essential products in response to the spread of the coronavirus.

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Earlier this month, Australian grocery stores began rationing toilet paper tostem a rush of panic buying,reportedThomson Reuters. In Calgary, a liquor store started a tongue-in-cheek campaign that involvedgiving away a roll of toilet paper with every two-four of Corona beer.

Assome peopleresort to extremes, Canada's public health agencies are recommending people only keep two weeks' worth of foodand other household supplies, along with a month's worth of medicine.

"It's been an interesting challenge for us all," saidBianco.

"This thing continues to evolve obviously, on so many fronts, but clearly I think it caught most of our industry off-guard."

Kruger makes most of its paper products at seven factories in Canada including a paper mill in Gatineau, Que., just across the Ottawa River from Parliament Hill.

At the end of the day, you're only going to use so much tissue.- Dino Bianco

Franois Paroyan, one of the company's senior vice-presidents, said Krugerhasn'tchanged the price of its products and is working to treat all its buyers the majority of which are largeretailersequitably.

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Biancoexpects the spike in demand will be followed byunusually low demand as customers use up theirstockpiles at home.

"We'll have a lull afterwards," he said. "Because at the end of the day, you're only going to use so much tissue."