The backlog of container ships waiting to dock, trucks that cannot move inventory, soaring freight rates and labor shortages have all contributed to the country’s supply chain problems.

As we enter the critical holiday shopping season, local companies are struggling to cope with all this.

Holidays are important to my grandma's New England coffee cake. They mix various flavors, but you won't find cappuccino this year.

"Cappuccino is made with pure Italian espresso," said the owner, Bob Katz. "One of the reasons we had to cut is that we can't get espresso from overseas. It is one of the ingredients you can't get, and we won't use any substitutes."

In-depth news reports in the Greater Boston area.

The company has difficulty even getting the nutmeg needed for pumpkin cake, even if it is from Connecticut.

Katz said: "We have a truck and we can pick it up, but they don't even have an employee at the loading dock that can load the nutmeg in the place where the nutmeg is produced."

But he said planning ahead can keep them in good condition with cans and boxes during the holidays.

"Our shipping department is incredible in reaching deals with these companies in advance," Katz said. "Because if we don't have a box, we will go bankrupt, and there are challenges, they have to change things and make deals with people to buy more than we need but what they need anyway. They are doing incredible work."

At Boston Honey, they have a lot of honey-jars and lids are the problem.

“This is the glass jar we use for one of our products, and it contains 16 ounces of honey,” said co-owner Addie Reseska.

She spent several hours searching online for dealers who could meet her needs.

"The pressure is if you don't have a container, how do you distribute the product and how do you pay the employees?" Reseska asked. "It permeates everything. Payroll, distribution, all of this, so it really keeps you awake at night, stressful, yes."

In Vermont, the manufacturer of Coombs Family Farms maple syrup told us that the prices of bottles, caps, labels, and cardboard are all rising, and labor is in short supply.

Gilette acknowledged that it faces a challenging situation, but said its team is working around the clock to ensure that customers can use their beauty products.

Hasbro of Rhode Island stated in a recent earnings report that they are working tirelessly to ensure products during the holiday, and Stop & Shop tells us that it is working hard to maintain inventory of high-demand products. It is currently difficult to find juice, juice boxes, pet food and paper products.

It will not happen in time for the holidays, but supply chain experts say that the distribution bottleneck will eventually be eliminated.

"If you don't do this, retailers and manufacturers won't be able to supply," said Lauren Beitelspacher, an associate professor in the marketing department at Babson College. "There will be community intervention and government intervention to promote this process. Buying and selling goods for consumers is an important part of our economy. Therefore, there is a lot of motivation to solve this problem and promote this process."

There are some expert advices this holiday season-don't wait until the last minute. Whether you are buying gifts, food or household necessities, if you see it and need it, please continue to buy it. You may not get the best price, but otherwise you may not get the product at all.