Sydney supermarkets bring back toilet paper limits due to increase in panic buying

Australia’s major supermarkets have brought back purchase limits on toilet paper across greater Sydney as the northern beaches COVID cluster grows.

Australia’s major supermarkets have implemented purchase limits on toilet paper and hand paper towel across Greater Sydney. Picture: Toby Zerna

Australia’s major supermarkets have brought back purchase limits on toilet paper and hand paper towel across Greater Sydney due to an increase in panic buying sparked by the northern beaches coronavirus cluster.

Woolworths has confirmed all its stores across the greater metropolitan area will have a two-pack limit for both items, after a surge in demand from residents going back into lockdown.

The major retailer said there are no impacts on supply of both goods. Coles is understood to have implemented the same restrictions.

It is understood the prudent measure has been introduced to smooth out the impact to the supermarkets’ supply chains, and limits have been brought in across a larger area than necessary to prevent people being tempted to travel to other zones.

Around 200 Woolworths stores are affected by the changes, with the supermarket saying order volumes in NSW have tripled and more than 400,000 packs are expected to be delivered this week.

Woolworths Supermarkets New South Wales General Manager, Michael Mackenzie said there has been a steady increase in demand over the past 24 hours.

“While demand is nowhere near the levels we saw earlier this year, we’re taking a preventive step ahead of the busy pre-Christmas trade,” Mr Mackenzie said.
“We have plenty of toilet paper stock to draw on from our suppliers and it will continue to flow into stores in large volumes.”

Mr Mackenzie said shoppers should be wearing masks when entering stores.

More to come

Originally published as Sydney supermarkets bring back toilet paper limits due to increase in panic buying