What did it take to keep H-E-B running during Harvey?
Brian, appreciate your kind comments! @HEB Partners (employees) from all over the state and Houston have worked hard. Proud to help. https://t.co/IbsRgKEkA0
— Scott McClelland (@HEBScott) September 4, 2017
Scott McClelland, president of H.E. Butt Co.’s Houston division did a fantastic Q&A posted on LinkedIn about what it takes (and what it’s still taking) to keep the company’s Houston stores up and running in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.
People need mops and bleach, not floral.
“I’ll take all the bread I can possibly get right now. Then you’re going to start to get produce. The guy who runs floral at H-E-B calls every day: ‘Can I start to ship floral?’ We don’t care about floral. People do not buy flowers in the middle of a hurricane. You only have so many trucks and so much space.”
The company has 83 stores in Houston, and less than a week after the hurricane, 79 of them are back up and running. Three will have to be rebuilt.
McClelland says H-E-B is in constant communication with suppliers, working to ensure the company stays high on the allocation list.
“We've been talking to suppliers right and left about what we need. How can you move us up on the allocation list? And, maybe along the way, I might have told suppliers I talked to Walmart and Kroger and I heard they didn't need anything. (Laughs.) They are in the same boat. I'm just trying to get more than my fair share.”
The company’s own manufacturing switched gears, with bakeries switching to white, wheat and hot dog buns instead of the full line of bread.
Water, especially in areas with flooding, is a hot commodity.
“Yesterday, they put a water ban on one part of Houston. Within five minutes, we had a truck rolling to that area. Once they put a water ban on, people go crazy. Like they have to get water immediately. If you can't get water into a city, you're going to have civil unrest.”
It’s going to take a long time to recover, but McClelland has confidence in the people of Houston.
“Recovery's not going to be measured in terms of days or weeks but really months. But, you know, Houston will rise. You come back in a year, you aren't going to see a bunch of homes and buildings boarded up. This thing will get rebuilt.”