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Drakes customers limited to two packets of toilet paper as panic buying restarts in Adelaide

Despite warnings there was no need, panic buying has again hit Adelaide – prompting Drakes Supermarkets to bring in restrictions on toilet paper purchases.

'Just calm down!' Rise in panic buying again in SA (7 News)

Drakes supermarkets have placed two packet limits on toilet paper purchases, as coronavirus-related panic buying starts to take off again in Adelaide.

Director John-Paul Drake, who famously gave the one-finger salute to a shopper who tried to get a refund on 150 packs of toilet paper during the first round of panic buying, said the business was starting to see “a bit of craziness” when it came to toiler paper purchases.

“We’ve had a couple of people wanting to buy full cartons (of toiler paper),” he said.

“Unfortunately, we’re starting to see exactly the same signs we saw three months ago, when we said we had plenty of toilet paper.”

Mr Drake said the problem was not widespread at the moment, with some store managers reporting small increases in toilet paper buying, but others noticing a surge in purchases.

John-Paul Drake at Drakes’ Torrensville store. Picture: Roy Vandervegt
John-Paul Drake at Drakes’ Torrensville store. Picture: Roy Vandervegt

“We have 12 weeks supply of toiler paper in our warehouse, so in any normal world, there’d be plenty to go around,” he said.

“If people just purchase what they need, we’ll all be fine.”

As well as toilet paper, Mr Drake said there had been an increase in meat sales again, like the first round of panic buying.

“We have noticed an increase in meat sales, but at this point in time we’ve got plenty of meat,” he said.

A toilet paper aisle is looking empty again at Woolworths at Northpark plaza this week. Picture: Supplied
A toilet paper aisle is looking empty again at Woolworths at Northpark plaza this week. Picture: Supplied

Hand sanitiser sales have also lifted, but Mr Drake said there was enough stock on hand “to get us through the year”.

Cleaning supplies and paper towel sales are also rising.

Mr Drake said if there was one message he could get across to shoppers, it would be to stay calm.

“Fingers crossed, everyone has learnt their lesson, because this isn’t our first rodeo,” he said.

“As the PM said, it’s unAustralian to be hoarding these products. If everyone just buys what they need, there won’t be a problem.

“Our supermarkets are always going to be open.”

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A spokesman from the Romeo’s Retail Group said, at this stage, the supermarket chain had refrained from imposing any restrictions on toilet paper.

“Although there has been a slight increase in demand, currently we feel we (Romeo’s and our warehouse) has sufficient stock levels to accommodate our customers and community,” he said.

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A Woolworths spokesman said while there had been a few stores with higher than usual demand in parts of Adelaide, it was nowhere near previous demand levels.

“We’ll keep a close eye on demand over the coming days and we continue to ask customers to buy only what they need,” he said.

A Coles spokeswoman said while there were no restrictions as yet, the company was monitoring stock levels.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/coronavirus/drakes-customers-limited-to-two-packets-of-toilet-paper-as-panic-buying-restarts-in-adelaide/news-story/7be53ed0e234ffa9e93b798dca8e038b