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Out of luck finding cat food at Migros? Here’s the solution

5.12.2022

Recently I’ve been finding myself standing in front of empty shelves at Migros when looking for my cat’s favourite food. Let me tell you why there’s been a supply chain problem and where I’ve finally struck gold.

Our cat’s name may be Mango, but that’s not what he eats. Okay, corny joke. Nevertheless, it’s all about Mango and his favourite chow. I still remember how Mango clumsily explored our home when he first came to us a good three years ago. After providing him with all sorts of food options, we figured out what he likes to eat most – and what he likes to eat least. To our relief, he refused the (more expensive) wet food and prefers dry food instead. Since we often shop at Migros, we got into the habit of buying the Felix brand of cat food there. Every now and then, after his main course, we give him small treats like cat sticks or sometimes cat milk. And of course, Mango also finds himself his own feasts from time to time – in the form of a mouse or recently, even a rat.

Delicacies like this one from good old nature aren’t always so easy to come by.

Migros: «There’s enough food for our cats»

Because variety is the spice of life, we try to treat Mango to other brands once in a while – in vain. At least when it comes to his favourite brand, he allows us to switch between beef and chicken. How generous of him. But it’s precisely this preferred brand of his that has been missing the past few weeks from the shelves of the two giant Migros stores where I usually shop. In its stead have simply been the words «supply chain disruption».

Aha, so a supply chain disruption is to blame for the shortage of cat food.

I was astonished. Cat food supply chain disruption? What could be the cause? I was aware that there could be a power shortage due to the war in Ukraine and many French nuclear power plants being offline for maintenance. But a cat food shortage? And if so, why? «During the pandemic, we noticed a sharp increase in the number of people acquiring pets,» was Migros’ answer to my written inquiry. As a result, the demand for pet food has also risen sharply, but suppliers have not been able to keep up with it. «Nevertheless, we are not experiencing a shortage of cat food products,» Migros wrote.

If that’s true, then why have the shelves been empty when I go to buy cat food? «Stocks are basically sufficient and are meeting demand,» responded Migros. «However, it may be that – depending on the day of the week – demand is higher, briefly creating the impression of empty shelves.» Apparently products arrive in stores on Tuesdays so it can sometimes look empty at the beginning of the week, «especially because many customers do their weekly shopping on Saturdays». But shelves are usually quickly restocked, or so I’m told. Supply bottlenecks would only affect the deliveries of individual stores. «The fact is there is no bottleneck, there’s enough food for our cats,» the Migros media spokesman reassured me.

Luckily there are alternatives

Well, that may be true. But it’s also a fact that the shelf was still empty on my last visit, which wasn’t at the beginning of the week. In the meantime, I’ve tried to re-educate my cat a bit – with moderate success. Fortunately, however, I’ve struck gold here at Galaxus on our online shop. We have the big packs of Felix cat food in stock.

Felix Meat crispy menu (Adult, 1 pcs., 2000 g)

Cat food

CHF11.90 CHF5.95/1kg

Felix Meat crispy menu

Adult, 1 pcs., 2000 g

Cat food

CHF11.90 CHF5.95/1kg

Felix Crispy Menu

Adult, 1 pcs., 2000 g

But because every cat has its own preferences, you’ll find over 3,000 different cat food products at Galaxus. However, one brand is missing. The Exelcat brand. Migros took these off shelves in mid-October. And since Galaxus purchased this exclusive cat food from Migros, it’s currently not available in our online shop either. The reason for the ban is a dispute with the manufacturer over the purchase price. The manufacturer is the US company Mars, known mainly for their chocolate bars. Mars had an exclusive contract with Migros for the Exelcat cat food. When will Exelcat be available again? «Negotiations are currently underway with the supplier and we hope to be able to reach an agreement soon,» the Migros media office told me. And, «We regret that Exelcat’s delicacies are currently unavailable, but we’re pleased that many cats are not as picky as you might think – we’ve seen an increase in the number of other brands purchased, such as our own Felix brand.»

Well, it just may be that there aren’t as many picky cats as I had imagined. But that doesn’t change the fact that Mango is definitely one. So as long as the Felix brand is unavailable at my Migros, I’ll just order it online. Because who wouldn’t do anything for their cat?

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Martin Rupf

Senior Editor

martin.rupf@digitecgalaxus.ch

Half-Danish dad of two and third child of the family, mushroom picker, angler, dedicated public viewer and world champion of putting my foot in it.

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Out of luck finding cat food at Migros? Here’s the solution

Migros: «There’s enough food for our cats»

Luckily there are alternatives

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