Victorian Woolies brings back purchase limit on items as panic buying hits again
Just a few weeks after supermarkets removed all limits on purchases there are signs that panic buying is on the up once again in Melbourne, with Coles and Woolies now stepping in to stem the problem.
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Renewed panic buying in parts of Melbourne have forced the reinstatement of purchase limits on some essentials at Woolworths and Coles supermarkets across Victoria.
Woolies has brought back a purchase limit of two items on toilet paper, hand sanitiser, paper towel, flour, sugar, pasta, mince, UHT milk, eggs and rice in stores statewide.
At Coles limits of one item are now in place for toilet paper and paper towels. Pasta, hand sanitiser, mince, UHT milk, flour, eggs, sugar and rice have a two-item limit.
Woolworths said the preventive move was is in response to “significantly elevated demand” seen over the past 24 hours in certain parts of Melbourne.
It would support social distancing in stores and ensure more customers have access to the products they need.
Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said: “We understand many Victorians are anxious about the recent community outbreak, but they can be assured our stores will remain open with plenty of stock in our warehouses to replenish our shelves.
“While we have healthy stock levels to draw on, we’re taking this precautionary step to help prevent excessive buying and support appropriate social distancing in our Victorian stores.
“We have more than enough product for all of our customers if we all just buy what we need in our weekly shop.
“We’ll closely monitor demand across Victoria in the coming days and look to wind back the limits as soon as we can.”
Coles Group CEO Steven Cain said: “Following discussion with the federal and Victorian governments as well as other retailers, Coles is implementing temporary purchase limits for our Victorian supermarkets to help us manage demand for key staple items.
“We ask that customers continue to shop normally so that everyone can have access to the food and groceries they need.”
Staff at store entrances will now also remind customers to use hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes for trolleys at stations before entering.
The reintroduction of limits on select categories will only apply in Victoria. It will also apply to online orders.
The move follows panic buying of toilet paper breaking out again in pockets of Melbourne as COVID-19 cases climb.
Shoppers are being reminded to only buy what they need.
Earlier today, Woolworths said there had been “elevated demand” for toilet paper in a small number of stores in Melbourne.
It was closely monitoring the situation, and quickly replenishing shelves.
“We have plenty of stock to draw on in our distribution centres and will replenish our shelves quickly,” a spokesman said.
“We have more than enough product for all of our customers if we all just buy what we need.
Woolworths declined to say which suburbs had experienced a renewed surge in demand.
But the Herald Sun understands the panic buying is highest in Melbourne’s coronavirus hotspots.
ALDI asked shoppers to resist any compulsion to purchase more than they normally would.
Customers did not need to be worried about access to toilet paper, as supply was plentiful.
Panic buying of groceries reached a frenzy across Australia in March.
The re-emergence of stockpiling in parts of Melbourne comes amid a disturbing rise in coronavirus infections and fears of a second wave of the illness.
The state government has not ruled out imposing stay-at-home rules in targeted areas if the situation worsens.