Some Supermarket Shelves Empty As Shoppers Prepare For The Worst Over Coronavirus

Published on: 16 Mar, 2020
Updated on: 19 Mar, 2020

Despite government appeals and reassurances from supermarkets, shoppers left some supermarket shelves in Guildford empty as they prepared for a potential lockdown in the country due to coronavirus.

The British Retail Consortium reponded by sending out a joint letter to customers appealing to them to be considerate in the way they shopped.

Some products such as toilet rolls had been completely bought out at Tesco in Ashenden Road, Guildford today (Monday, March 16).

The letter, signed by all the major supermarkets, said that the “online delivery and click and collect services were running at full capacity” and that they were working with government and the suppliers to ensure that shelves were stocked.

It added: “There is enough for everyone if we all work together.”

While supermarkets appeared to be well stocked in general certain items were in high demand including toilet rolls, paracetamol, dried dog food, eggs, cooking oils, tinned vegetables, beans and pulses, pizzas, and breakfast cereals.

Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Aldi and the Aldershot Road Co-op store, were all working as normal with perishable goods such as fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products seeming to be fully stocked.

In general, toilet rolls, paracetamol, dried dog food, eggs, cooking oils, tinned vegetables, beans and pulses, pizzas, and breakfast cereals had been stripped from the shelves. And Aldi was operating a rationing system at its Burpham branch on certain items.

Shoppers were calm but a bit baffled when confronted by the unusual sight of empty shelves.

One shopper said: “I have a family to feed but we must keep calm. It’s not necessary to be doing this. ”

Another said: “Why are people buying toilet rolls? It’s crazy.”

Press reports have predicted that the shortages will be short term only but saying that the “”unknown factor was labour”, questioning what would happen if 20% of the workforce was taken ill, a situation the government has factored into its plans.

British Retail Consortium joint letter signed by all the major supermarkets.

Responses to Some Supermarket Shelves Empty As Shoppers Prepare For The Worst Over Coronavirus

Diana Boyden Reply

March 17, 2020 at 4:14 pm

If only the supermarkets would limit the number of any one item people can buy, it would really help.

I need to self-isolate because I am in a very high risk category, but at the moment I am going to the shops three times as much because the shelves are so empty.
Sara Tokunaga Reply

March 17, 2020 at 5:31 pm

I visited Ashendon Road Tesco store this afternoon to replace a few essentials I was running low on.

No meat, no pasta or rice, no soup and, more important, no dog/cat food.

For those of us with limited budgets/space, this is becoming quite a problem. I think it’s about time these selfish people who are hoarding got a grip and started considering others.

I wonder how much of the fresh food will be wasted in the coming weeks.
- Robert Smith Reply
  
  March 21, 2020 at 10:13 am
  
  I totally agree there will be so much wasted, I really don’t understand the panic re toilet paper. Also, this panic buying deprives the really needy i.e. Foodbanks.
  
  I went to a small shop yesterday and the shelves were stripped almost bare.
  
  I am on a low income and found it very hard to find any bread etc that I could afford.
  
  Please, people, don’t be so unthoughtful.
John Perkins Reply

March 22, 2020 at 9:04 am

Rationing of items by supermarkets does not work: couples go separately to the till, take the goods to the car and then go back for another quota.

They might also be using messaging apps to organise themselves as our local farm shop was fine one day, but the next was descended on and stripped by a ravening horde.