Coronavirus: Coles adds milk to growing list of restricted items amid COVID-19 panic

The supermarket giant has been forced to add more essential items to its growing list of restricted products amid COVID-19 panic.

Coles and Woolworths will be limiting yet more stock to its customers as both struggle to keep up with increasing demand.

Coles said today it would be limiting the sale of chilled milk to customers, allowing two units per shopper.

“This includes all sizes of white dairy milk, plant-based non-dairy & goats milk sold chilled in our dairy fridges,” the statement, shared on Twitter, read. The restriction applies to Coles Brand and branded varieties.

From today Coles supermarkets & Coles Express will limit the sale of all Coles Brand & branded chilled milk to two per customer. This includes all sizes of white dairy milk, plant-based non-dairy & goats milk sold chilled in our dairy fridges.

— Coles Supermarkets (@Coles) March 17, 2020

It comes 24 hours after the Australian supermarket announced it had added eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert to the growing list of food and household items shoppers were limited in buying – all items were now capped at two packs per customer.

Coles has today introduced new purchase limits to improve availability for customers. Shoppers may now only purchase two packs per customer of the following: eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert.

— Coles Supermarkets (@Coles) March 16, 2020

Coles’ list of restricted items already included mince, pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers which are also capped at two items per customer. Toilet paper remains limited to 1 pack per customer.

Coles has also temporarily suspended its change of mind policy to discourage over-purchasing.

Coles’ chief executive office Steven Cain said staff had been working “as hard as possible” to get more products on shelves – but more action was needed.

“As the situation around coronavirus continues to develop, we believe that everyone in the community should have access to their share of grocery items, particularly the elderly,” he said.

“If you have already purchased additional items you no longer want, please look at donating them to community organisations or neighbours who have been struggling to purchase them during this time.

“We will get through this together,” Mr Cain added.

RELATED: Follow more coronavirus updates here

Coles stores across the country are experiencing extreme product shortages as people panic about the coronavirus outbreak. Picture: Supplied

WOOLWORTHS

Woolworths has also added tough new restrictions this morning.

It is now applying a blanket two-items-per-person rule to everything except a few highly sought after items which will be kept at one pack per person.

The one-item limit remains on antibacterial wipes, baby wipes, paper towels, rice (2kg and above), serviettes and toilet paper. Everything else will be limited to two items per person.

There will be a small “no limit” category on fresh fruit and vegetables, meat (excluding mince), deli, bakery, seafood, fresh milk canned fish and drinks. There will also be no limit on baby food as well as cat and dog food and yoghurts.

The move has been met with mixed reviews by frustrated shoppers who are struggling to buy basics as shelves are stripped bare over fears of a lockdown across the country.

What about long life. The shelves were stripped at my local store

— nat (@shopaholic00001) March 17, 2020

So what’s next? Like each customer can only spend 100$ for each purchase. More purchases will result in $11,000 fine or 3 months jail time? Good idea?

— Ryan🇦🇺🍻✌🏼 (@RyanZha87016254) March 17, 2020

Roll this out across the board for everything. It’s not difficult. Smaller supermarkets are already doing this. One per customer for most items. It’s the only fair and equitable solution to the looting currently happening by the zombie horde.

— MsWashYourHandsRegularlyPraxis (@MsPraxis) March 17, 2020

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci issued customers a grim message about toilet paper supplies on Saturday as Australians continued to panic buy and stockpile among a number of household “staples”.

In an email sent to hundreds of customers, Mr Banducci said toilet paper “won’t be available for pick up orders for the time being”.

“Limits are now in place on toilet paper, wipes, paper towels, serviettes, rice and some other items,” he said.

“Our toilet paper suppliers continue to work on meeting increased demand, and we’re working with some suppliers to prioritise the production of smaller pack sizes, so we can make more packs available to you this week.

“Our team will be happy to see if toilet paper is available in store when you come in to pick up your order.

“We’ve been working hard to keep our shelves stocked and delivery and pick up windows available.

“However, as you are no doubt aware, demand is still very high and products are being bought more quickly than usual when they arrive in store.

“These remain challenging times and with the situation evolving.”

The supermarket chain announced it had partnered with Meals On Wheels to deliver toilet paper to the nation’s seniors.

“The first deliveries were made in NSW (on March 17) and we’re doing what we can to expand this service in the weeks to come.”

Woolworths yesterday also introduced an “exclusive” shopping time from 7am to 8am for the elderly and disabled. The initiative will run until at least Friday, for people with a government-issued concession card.

It was a decision that was quickly followed by Coles.

ALDI

Aldi Australia also announced major changes in its stores, restricting its shopping hours and introducing buying restrictions as well as code of practice to enter stores.

Aldi supermarkets will trade from 9.30am to 7pm, unless other state and local trading restrictions apply, from March 18 to dedicate more time to restocking shelves and “allow thorough cleaning” its stores.

“Our employees and businesses throughout our supply chain have been working incredibly hard to deliver more products than ever into stores each day,” an Aldi statement said.

“We are operating at full-steam and working under immense pressure to provide products to every single customer that shops with us. We also want to let you know that there is more than enough food to go around; we just need your patience and support.

German supermarket chain Aldi has announced it plans to restrict shopping hours as of today. Picture: Supplied

“We will continue to re-evaluate these hours on a weekly basis and communicate the decision to either uphold these hours or return to normal trading hours.”

Aldi said reduced hours would also support the work done by its distribution centre employees and allow for thorough cleaning of its stores.

Yesterday Aldi Australia’s CEO Tom Daunt announced the new limits at the German store while calling on shoppers to be “calm”.

Shoppers are now be restricted in buying dry pasta, flour, dry rice (excludes microwave rice), paper towels and hand sanitiser – all of which are now limited to two packs per customer.

Previously, Aldi had held off introducing grocery limits, only restricting shoppers to one pack of toilet roll.

Shoppers have previously shared photos of empty freezers in Aldi stores online. Picture: Facebook

“We know many of you are worried about the spread of coronavirus and your ability to access fresh food, hygiene products and essential items,” Mr Daunt said in a statement. “We want to let you know that there is more than enough food to go around; we just need your patience and support.”

He went on to explain that demand had “skyrocketed in the last few weeks”, leading to the decision to temporarily suspended change of mind refunds to discourage over-purchasing.

Aldi Australia has also issued new conditions of entry to its stores to tackle the “absolutely unacceptable” acts of violence towards staff as fears heighten.

It also addressed those who try to “game” the product restriction policies following reports families were getting around toilet paper limits by sending young kids to the check-outs.

Aldi shoppers were forced to wait in huge queues to get into a store on Saturday. Picture: Facebook

Parents were reportedly getting their children to buy packs of toilet paper so they could take home extra in the family’s shop. Picture: Facebook

CRIMINAL CONDUCT

NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys addressed the situation today, calling it “criminal conduct”.

“People need to realise that this sort of behaviour where you want to go to supermarkets and fight or squabble over items, it is criminal conduct and we have shown that we will charge people for this sort of behaviour,” he said on the Today show.

“I guess the message that we would like to convey is people just need to settle down. They just need to realise that, you know, this is going to go on now for weeks and months. The supply will be there.

“We just don’t want people to go into supermarkets and pretty much take it into their own hands. There is a lot of vulnerable people in those supermarkets trying to do their best to get staples. We just really want people to be considerate.”

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