Harsh winter making it tough for Halifax retailers to meet demand for salt

Above Watch: Natasha Pace reports on the salt shortage in Halifax.

HALIFAX – Keeping up with the demand for salt and sand is a full time job lately at Walker’s Livestock Feed and Supplies on Cole Harbour Road in Dartmouth. On Monday afternoon, employees worked to unload 16 tonnes of salt and sand from a flatbed truck.

In February, Walker’s has gone through 100 tonnes of salt and sand. Some Halifax residents are in such dire need of salt, they have taken to social media to track where it’s available for purchase.

“The last month has been unbelievable. Facebook, emails, tweets, calls, people dropping in, you name it. Everybody is desperate for salt and sand,” Walker said.

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In Lower Sackville, Payzant Home Hardware Building Supplies got a shipment of salt on Friday, but by Monday morning there was hardly any remaining.

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The store has had to buy more salt this winter, and it’s had to buy it later in the season. So far, it has sold tens of thousands of bags.

“We haven’t had any issues getting the salt when we go to the manufacturers, but when you’re buying a truckload at a time, you buy one and hope it will last,” said Matthew Payzant of Payzant Home Hardware Building Supplies. “But it seems to be as soon as we buy it, it’s gone, so we have to buy another one.”

With the harsh winter, many retailers say they are having a difficult time keeping on top of the demand for salt, and being able to gauge how much to stock.

“As retailers, we want to move on to spring, so it’s the challenge of having the inventory, but not having too much that you run out,” said Payzant. “We all love to buy salt in November because there’s lot of winter ahead, but winter should be over by now.”