Supermarkets introduce product restrictions amid lockdown panic buying

Supermarkets across the state have been flooded with panicked shoppers, as product restrictions have been reintroduced.

Coles has relaxed product limits on essentials including toilet paper as Victoria begins a five-day lockdown.

Customers from Saturday are allowed two packs each of toilet paper and paper towels.

It’s the same limit imposed at Woolworths.

Coles has also removed limits on several items including hand sanitiser, face masks and long life milk.

It comes after spooked shoppers on Friday loaded up on grocery essentials including toilet paper as supermarket chains reassured customers there was no need to panic buy.

Shoppers were seen stuffing their trolleys with toilet paper and pantry staples even before the lockdown was announced.

Cosco Docklands shoppers buying toilet paper. Picture: David Caird

But there was no repeat of mass hysteria which has previously played out in stores.

Hanna Knowles, shopping at Coles in Lalor, said people needed to “calm down” after another woman snatched a packet of chicken wings from her hands.

“I grabbed a packet of chicken wings and she just snatched the corner of the pack and ripped it out of my hands,’’ she said.

“There was literally still stock on the shelves. The slightest whisper of a lockdown and this is how people act. We clearly haven’t learnt anything about our behaviour since the start of lockdown.”

Supermarkets in regional areas were also flooded with shoppers, with violence flaring at Ballarat and hectic scenes in Wonthaggi.

“It’s ridiculous,” Marion McVicker, doing her usual shop, said.

Toilet paper shelves were cleaned out at Coles at Waverley Gardens.

“Everyone is just panic buying since Daniel Andrews made the announcement.”

The Saturday Herald Sun was given an inside look at Coles’ Truganina distribution centre where thousands of tonnes of groceries were ready to hit shelves.

Stock was already moving to where it was needed most.

“We are seeing a lot more customers coming into store and they are shopping across the store with big trolley shops,’’ Coles chief operations officer Matthew Swindells said.

“What you don’t find are people hoarding individual products. “They are just stocking up right across the shop.

“It’s important for people to understand that we don’t start preparations when this announcement occurs.

“We have kept ourselves ready to go. Our stock levels on the key products that we know become wanted are elevated and have remained so. We just pull the trigger.”

Coles and Woolworths have both introduced two-pack limits per customer on numerous pantry essentials.

They include sugar, flour, rice and pasta.

Woolworths Victoria assistant state manager John Di Tirro said:

“We have plenty of stock to draw on from our suppliers and distribution centres and our team will be hard at work making sure it flows into our stores in large volumes over the coming days.”

Lines stretching from one side of the store to the other at Wonthaggi Coles.

“We encourage Victorians to be mindful of others in the community and to continue shopping as they usually would,’’ he said.

Victorian Transport Association chief executive officer Peter Anderson said the supply chain would be maintained but was fearful the lockdown could last longer.

“The borders need to remain open in a safe and proper manner,’’ he said.

“We certainly don’t want to see what happened in South Australia happen in Victoria.”

Australian Logistics Council chief executive officer Kirk Coningham said protocols were in place to keep essential goods moving between states.

“In addition to wave through policies for freight lanes we have also negotiated relief from delivery curfews allowing industry to meet periods of greater demand,’’ he said.

Supermarkets will remain open during lockdown.

Coles stressed product limits were merely to maintain supply. Picture: David Caird