Coronavirus QLD: Police at Brisbane Coles as shelves restocked

Shoppers at a Brisbane Woolworths have been greeted with more empty shelves today despite mammoth overnight re-stocking efforts, with some necessities nowhere in sight as elderly customers left with empty trollies.

SENIOR shoppers were again disappointed by empty shelves again during Woolworths dedicated shopping hour this morning, despite stores closing early last night to “restock”.

Shelves weren’t as sterile as they were on Tuesday morning, but any promise of prosperity remained unfulfilled, with stock shortages still a grim reality at Woolworths Ascot.

Life, but not as we know it: Six months to catch a killer

Qantas, Jetstar flights suspended as 20,000 stood down

Virus patient tells: ‘You feel you might never get well’

State’s Chief Health Officer handed unprecedented powers

Early morning older shoppers arrive at Ascot Woolworths. Woolworths say they closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Police at Brisbane Coles as shelves restocked

‘There’s nothing here’: Elderly sold short in early opening

Judith O’Connor counted herself among the lucky few, nabbing a kilogram of chicken breast – one of only “about half a dozen” found in miserly meat aisles.

“I asked the butcher and he said that was all there is, what was prepacked,” Mrs O’Connor said.

Meat section of Woolworths Ascot, Woolworths closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves. Photographer: Liam Kidston

Mrs O’Connor had visited Ascot Woolworths every morning this week in the simple hope of buying necessities: a pack of pasta, chicken breast and toilet roll.

“That’s all we want,” she said.

Judith OÕConnor found most items on her shopping list but couldnÕt get pasta, Woolworths closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves, Ascot. Photographer: Liam Kidston

“The first morning we came there was really nothing. I just bought biscuits, it was really disappointing,”

Today less so – with bread shelves restocked, and paper towels and toilet paper also available, albeit in small quantities.

“There’s only a few packets of toilet paper … and there’s no pasta,” Mrs O’Connor said.

“There wasn’t a lot more today, but there was more.”

But aisles were far from prosperous with other shoppers disappointed by various stock shortages.

Toilet paper section of Woolworths Ascot, Woolworths closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves. Photographer: Liam Kidston

“Breakkie cereals, a lot of frozen foods, gone … canned veggies, pasta and tinned spaghetti and baked beans too,” said Len Stanford

He blamed panicking Australians rather than grocery stores chains for any shopping shortcomings.

Len Stanford blames other hoarding shoppers for the limited items on the shelves. Woolworths closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves, Ascot. Photographer: Liam Kidston

“It’s f---ing ridiculous, I’ve been in Australia all my years and I never thought I’d live to see it,” he said.

Still, there was a silver lining to the shopping cloud for Mr Stanford – food for his best mate

“Pet food still intact, thank god, which is what I mainly came down for,” he said.

“They can’t go shopping themselves, can they.”

A congregation of residents ineligible for the dedicated shopping hour amassed around the entrance of Woolworths Ascot as 8am grew closer.

These shoppers too left disappointed.

Meat section of Woolworths Ascot, Woolworths closed early on Wednesday night to restock shelves. Photographer: Liam Kidston

“Your best chance is coming this early but it’s still pretty grim … there’s still meat missing” Leighton Stephens said, exiting the store around 8.15am.

“All I want is just toilet paper for my house, I’m not trying to stock up, I don’t need 100 rolls.”

Meanwhile, Police were seen patrolling at New Farm Coles this morning as shoppers converged on the store this morning.

The Queensland Police Service said it continued to provide ongoing support to the community as the state responds to the ever evolving COVID-19 situation.

“We understand some local businesses, when needed, have implemented additional security precautions,”a police spokeswoman said.

“The QPS has not proactively positioned officers in supermarkets but will undertake preventative activities or respond to calls for service.

“Officers, as part of their daily duties, conduct foot patrols of businesses and shopping centres and this continues.”

A Coles New Farm worker said police had been there in the morning over the last two days.

“They’re just keeping an eye on everything because it get so busy,” they said.

Meat and canned vegetables were reportedly back in stock, with certain cleaning products ad laundry items also returning to shelves that had been barren for weeks.

POLICE AT BRISBANE COLES AS SHELVES RESTOCKED

POLICE were on site at Coles New Farm this morning, with officers patrolling the store as shoppers converged.

Stocks have been replenished with some out of stock items returning to the shelves that had been barren for days.

Meat and canned vegetables were back in stock, some cleaning products and laundry items had returned.

An elderly shopper is given a helping hand at Coles New Farm. Picture: Andrea Macleod

Unusually busy for 9am on a week day the centre was bustling with cars pouring in.

Saturday Fresh Markets to go ahead

Brisbane Market Limited will continue their Saturday Fresh Market, encouraging locals to stock up on produce and support growers and retailers.

While supermarket shelves continue to sell out, small businesses have been forced to close their doors from a lack of customers.

The Saturday Fresh Markets will continue to work through the pandemic and provide local produce as they depend on the support of the Brisbane community.

Originally published as Coronavirus QLD: Police at Brisbane Coles as shelves restocked