The IFA protest in Naas has brought a focus on how supermarkets manage and distribute stocks of the produce they offer for sale.

In the food category, goods are either chilled, as with beef and dairy; frozen, as is the case with ice cream, or ambient, for goods like beans and biscuits.

Each category will be managed according to the temperature requirement of the product.

Large regional centres the norm

Large regional or indeed national distribution centres are now normal for many of the large supermarket groups that operate a centralised buying system.

Sophisticated computerisation means that stocks are updated in real time, as customers lift produce from supermarket shelves, and it is on this basis that orders are generated for suppliers to replenish stocks.

There is no meaningful stock carried in store or in adjacent warehousing

This all means that in the large supermarket chains, there is no meaningful stock carried in store or in adjacent warehousing.

Orders from across a range of stores are accumulated for suppliers who usually make a daily bulk delivery to a central distribution depot from where individual store orders are selected and delivered, usually during the night so that shelves can be restocked for the next morning.

With the supply chain working to a just-in-time strategy, there is little supply of stock available and any disruption at a distribution centre will quickly cause empty shelves in stores.