Supermarkets are warning customers not to panic buy ahead of new restrictions

Store bosses have insisted that they have enough delivery slots and stock for everyone (Photo: Shutterstock)Store bosses have insisted that they have enough delivery slots and stock for everyone (Photo: Shutterstock)
Store bosses have insisted that they have enough delivery slots and stock for everyone (Photo: Shutterstock)

Shoppers have been warned to avoid panic buying at supermarkets ahead of possible new restrictions in the UK.

At the start of the coronavirus crisis earlier this year, many of the UK's big supermarket chains such as Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Aldi were forced to introduce limits on products to curb panic buying among shoppers.

Toilet paper, long-life food and tinned products were stripped from shelves as supermarkets struggled to keep up with an upswing in demand.

With renewed coronavirus restrictions on the horizon, the UK's biggest supermarkets are now warning shoppers to avoid panic buying.

Early signs of panic buying

Some shoppers and supermarkets have reported spotting the early signs of panic buying over the past few days as coronavirus cases have risen.

One supermarket worker in Birmingham told The Daily Mirror, "Some people are definitely panic buying again. We have 4,000 more items this weekend than we usually would.

"When the panic buying started months ago, we hadn't experienced it. We are prepared now."

Though store bosses insist they have enough delivery slots and stocks for everyone, they have urged shoppers to be "considerate" when they shop.

Andrew Opie, head of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, said, “We urge consumers to be considerate and shop for food as they would usually during this difficult time.

"Supply chains are stronger than ever before and we do not anticipate any issues in the availability of food or other goods under any future lockdown."

Some shoppers, however, have already reported difficulties securing a delivery slot for groceries.

Tesco has ramped up its ordering capacity from 600,000 slots to 1.5 million, while Asda has increased its slots by 65 per cent to meet demand.

As of yet, no supermarkets have reinstated limits on products in-store, but Morrisons has announced it will be reinstating marshals at entrances to limit the number of shoppers coming in and out.