Some of the major supermarkets have implemented new restrictions on the number of each item a shopper can purchase to try and stop the panic buying.
Sainsbury’s customers will now only be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery product or two of the most popular items, such as toilet roll, soap and UHT milk.
They have also announced that all of its stores will only be open to customers over 70 and those with a disability for the first hour of trading on Thursday 19th March, however they will also remain open one hour later for everyone.
Sainsbury’s chief executive Mike Coupe said: “We have enough food coming into the system, but are limiting sales so that it stays on shelves for longer and can be bought by a larger numbers of customers.”
Waitrose have emailed customers to inform them of the new limits that will apply both in store and online : “reluctantly” introducing limits on some of its most in-demand online items.
Tesco customers will be restricted to “a five-item maximum” on the number of milk, pasta and anti-bacterial wipes they can buy.
Asda announced their restrictions on their website, “Like most retailers, we have seen a heightened demand for products both in stores and online – particularly on items like hand sanitiser and cleaning products and as a result, have implemented a two-item limit on purchasing these items.
“Whilst we are doing everything we can to maintain the availability of products for all our customers, we are asking our customers to shop responsibly in our stores and online so that everyone has access to the essentials.
