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02-07-2020
By SJA Jafri + Bureau Report
QUEENSLAND/ MELBOURNE/ SYDNEY: Supermarkets have reissued calls not to panic buy, as shoppers begin to strip shelves again.
Woolworths and Coles have today urged customers to be considerate, saying there’s plenty of supply for everyone.
Both supermarkets brought back toilet paper limits nationwide just last Wednesday and are imposing new restrictions, especially in Victoria, where new lockdowns are underway for more than 300,000 residents.
Yesterday, Woolworths warned about the availability of certain toilet paper and tissues featured in its new weekly catalogue.
Despite another day with no coronavirus cases in the state – and less than 10 diagnoses last month – signs of panic buying are visible again in Queensland supermarkets.
At Arana Hills north-west of Brisbane, shoppers have shared photos on social media of shelves stripped bare.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous I don’t know what people are thinking I mean how many cases of loo roll do you need,” one shopper said.
“It’s the same people that bought the last lot – what happened? Have they used it already? It’s all gone.”
Another shopper said she didn’t understand what prompted the panic.
“If someone had said to me (a few months ago) that that’s what would happen, I would have said no … I wouldn’t have believed it,” she said.
There are also signs of panic buying on the Gold Coast.
Toilet paper has been cleared from the Coles shelves at Pacific Pines and very few were left at Woolworths, Helensvale.
Woolworths warned customers yesterday that items on offer on its new catalogue, including Quilton Gold toilet tissue and Quilton 2ply Hypo Allergenic tissues, and Handee Double Length Paper Towels, may not be available.
“We are experiencing high demand for certain items in store and online. Unfortunately the above products may not be available in all stores. Please see in store and online for details,” it said.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said there is ample toilet paper supply available.
“We continue to order additional toilet roll stock into our network above our usual volumes and our teams are working to replenish shelves quickly for customers,” she told 9news.com.au.
“There is plenty of stock in Australia for everyone, so we encourage our customers to buy only what they need and think of others in the community as they shop. “If customers already have enough toilet roll at home, there is no need to buy more.
“The sooner we see buying patterns return to normal levels, as we saw throughout May and most of June, the quicker we’ll be able to wind back limits.”
A Coles spokeswoman urged customers to “continue to shop normally so that everyone can have access to the food and groceries they need”.
Earlier the supermarket pleaded with Victorians to stay calm and behave responsibly.
“There is no need for panic buying. We have all lived through the last six weeks with restrictions off. We bought what we needed when we needed it. Everyone got on fine with life,” Coles chief operating officer Matt Swindells told Today.
“Let’s do this in a collaborative way. Only buy what you need, treat each other with respect and we will be back on track before we know it. Don’t let frustration get the better of you.”
Australia’s new shopping restrictions
Woolworths: Limit of two packs per customer; (Online) Gloves, Hand wash,
Stores nationally: Toilet paper, Paper towels
Victorian stores: Hand Sanitizer, Flour, Sugar, Pasta, Mince, Long life milk, Eggs, Rice
Coles restrictions: One pack per customer; Toilet paper, Paper towels,
Two packs per customer; Hand Sanitizer, Flour, Eggs, Sugar, Mince, UHT milk, Rice, Pasta
Victoria / NSW border stores: One pack per customer; Toilet paper, Paper towel
Two packs per customer; Hand Sanitizer, Flour, Eggs, Sugar, Mince, UHT milk, Rice, Pasta
