New grocery limits at Coles, Costco, Woolworths and Aldi in wake of coronavirus

Aldi has followed the lead of Coles and Woolies, enforcing a strict new buying limit on customers as panic buying reaches boiling point.

It’s official, we’ve reached peak #ToiletPaperEmergency status.

Despite reassuring shoppers that stock would be replenished, mass shortages have been experienced, forcing the supermarket giants to take action.

After introducing buying limits amid the coronavirus panic that has seen shelves stripped of everyday essentials, new tougher limits have been put in place.

Yesterday Coles, Woolworths dropped the buying limit from four packs to one and now Aldi have revealed to news.com.au they have followed suit.

So here’s how much you can buy of Australia’s most sought-after grocery items at our biggest stores.

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In response to supermarket shelves being wiped clean, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Costco have all enforced limits on certain in-demand items. Picture: Supplied

ALDI

It was the last supermarket to introduce buying limits but Aldi Australia have just confirmed to news.com.au it has been forced to lower its limit to just one pack of toilet paper per customer.

Previously, the German-owned supermarket explained the restrictions were put in place in response to increased customer demand.

“In response to higher than usual demand for our toilet paper, we have decided to limit the purchase of this product to four packs per customer. This is to ensure that all customers have

access to staples as part of their weekly shop,” an Aldi spokeswoman told news.com.au.

One Aldi store was so overwhelmed, it introduced a one unit limit on toilet roll – but official word is four packs per person. Picture: Facebook

WOOLWORTHS

The Fresh Food People previously had a four-pack limit on toilet paper, but have now taken stricter action, reducing it down to just one pack. Toilet paper pack sizes vary from two to 30 rolls, a spokesperson told news.com.au. Woolies also introduced restrictions on rice and hand sanitiser. If you’re after rice, you’ll only be allowed to buy one large 2kg pack while antibacterial gel now sits behind the customer service desk and is capped at two bottles.

Pictured are the empty toilet paper shelves at Woolworths Town Hall. Picture: Christian Gilles

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COLES

Currently, Coles has also enforced tougher toilet roll purchases, limiting it to just a single pack down from four packs per person. When contacted by news.com.au the retailer confirmed it has not yet restricted any other grocery, pantry or cleaning items. Like Woolies, toilet paper pack sizes vary from two to 30 rolls.

Toilet paper is selling out across the country. Coles are scrambling to ensure everyone can access the popular product. Picture: Facebook

Supermarket shelves cleared of toilet roll at Coles Grafton. Picture: Facebook

COSTCO

Bulk goods supplier Costco has also set restrictions with customers being told they can only buy a maximum of two 48-packs of toilet paper.

On Tuesday, a Twitter user posted an image that showed tissues, eggs and A2 3.5 litre light and full cream milk also capped with shoppers only allowed to buy two “per member, per transaction”.

Costco was forced to take action after shoppers were buying big on toilet paper. Picture: Facebook/Sandra Hadley

OTHER PLACES YOU CAN BUY TOILET PAPER

If you’re struggling to get your hands on some much-needed toilet paper, there are some unexpected stores that currently have some in stock, including Bunnings, Officeworks and Big W.

WHEN WILL THE FRENZY BE OVER?

According to Queensland University of Technology retail expert Dr Gary Mortimer, the shortage should be over as early as next week.