Forum Topic

Are supermarkets still busy

Can anyone advise if  local supermarkets are still full of panic buyers or have things calmed down?

Sean Wales ● 2424d19 Comments

Waitrose wasn't that busy when I went in at 11.30, but very little stock fresh veg very limited including NO potatoes which surprised me,

Loraine Pemberton ● 2424d

Are people buying a second freezer.Actually i wonder if the sale of freezers has gone up.

Julian Pavey ● 2424d

Having not been shopping since last week, and hoping the weekend madness which affected supermarkets had abated, I ventured out to Sainsbury’s this morning, arriving at the pretty early time of 07.40.  The car park was nearly full - there were places but it was just like in the week before Christmas.  Huge queues for the tills.  Tuesday morning.

Micki Hawkes ● 2424d

An Australian friend of mine told me that in Australia people are panic buying fresh salad and freezing it. You can't freeze salad.

Chris Blackwell ● 2424d

Waitrose West Ealing unusually busy for a Tuesday morning at 11:00am today with no toilet rolls or kitchen towels.  Mainly an older audience but what do you expect when threatened with "house arrest"?

Philip Coe ● 2424d

I went to Sainsbury's yesterday morning. Horrendous queues. Not one bog roll, no oat crackers, no eggs, severely diminished wet cat food, lots of empty shelves. Plenty of ready meals, which I would never normally buy. Managed to get the last packet of dried spaghetti. Only 4 packets left and the bloke in front of me had shoved three into his basket, so I managed to dive in and nab the last one!

Jill Merrett ● 2424d

A friend who lives on the Chiswick/Hammersmith borders went into her local greengrocers a few days ago. He told her that someone had come in and bought £1000 worth of fruit and veg, saying that they had purchased two new freezers to freeze it all.Puts that extra pack of spaghetti into perspective, doesn't it?

Susan Kelly ● 2424d

Why are shops allowing this.

Janice Evans ● 2424d

It’s even worse today. Nearly all the veg has gone. The supermarkets have said that there’s no need to panic-buy as there’s enough to go round. If that’s the case, why are they not replenishing? The sight of all those empty shelves suggests a shortage, thus fuelling more panic-buying,

Julie Mitchell ● 2424d

Janice, that's an excellent question. Retailers should also be responsible and accountable for food and household items being available to all consumers.

Loraine Pemberton ● 2424d

This virus is really bringing out the scum behaviour of many, many people.

Steve Taylor ● 2423d

Some Iceland stores will open one hour early to allow older shoppers to buy food when it is quieter amid the coronavirus outbreak.Iceland said it was not a company policy, but it was allowing individual stores to decide how best to meet the needs of shoppers in their local areas.

Bernard Allen ● 2423d

I was shown a video of an ASDA store where it looked like the first day of Harrod's sale - people literally piling in and trampling others underfoot, it was disgusting. The managers need to tell people to queue in an orderly fashion and only allow a specified number of shoppers in at any one time, and limit the quantities that can be bought. That way we can all get what we need. Aldi today  - no fresh veg. and stuff you would never imagine people would ever need in large quantities - totally ridiculous.

Vanessa Smith ● 2423d

Please remember that local shops are much better stocked than supermarkets. Budgens, Spar, and all the other independent corner shops/convenience stores as well as places like Windfall Natural and As Nature Intended are all working hard to keep up supplies. Several are also offering order by phone and delivery.  Garry Diamond, Covent Garden Fishmonger, is doing so.  Urban Pantry has also announced it is doing takeaway and delivery including a dinner delivery service as well as pantry basics such as bread, milk, eggs; they will also run errands for people self-isolating.I'm compiling a list which I will publish shortly.Our independents are responsive and absolutely focused on customer service. Do please support them - of course following guidance about contact, avoiding small spaces, etc - so they survive this unprecedented crisis.

Joanna Biddolph ● 2423d

Went looking for my usual monthly purchase of a 4-pack of loo roll at the weekend, not to hoard it but for normal replacement. No chance in Sainsbury's Chiswick or Manor Road, Waitrose or Tesco's at Osterley. Finally came across a shelf-full at a Sainsbury's Local in Wimbledon. I have to say that the atmosphere in the large stores at the weekend was one of fear, not of Coronavirus but of the possibility of not being able to buy enough stuff for hoarding.  What is wrong with these morons?

Colin Jordan ● 2423d

Reckon corner shops are buying up excess stock to sell on at inflated prices. Only my opinion

Andrew Hodson ● 2423d

Reckon corner shops are buying up excess stock to sell on at inflated prices. Only my opinion

Andrew Hodson ● 2423d

Corner shop owners work really hard, can get in their cars after hours and go to the cash-and-carry, big supermarkets have to wait for 'distribution'.

Viv Griffiths ● 2423d

Not so busy just empty of stock visited Chiswick Sainsbury at 11am, no Fruit, veg, tins, loo full, Washing powders, pet foods bread, good luck.

Julie Greenham ● 2422d