Only one pack of toilet paper per person, Coles announces after coronavirus panic

Woolworths staff are resorting to extreme measures to protect their toilet paper stashes as they impose new restrictions

An image obtained by news.com.au has captured a security officer from Woolworths guarding a stack of toilet paper.

The security guard was from a Woolworths in Narrabeen, in Sydney’s north. He can be seen standing at the pallet, with huge packets of toilet paper at his feet.

And it’s a move not unique to just Woolworths.

“There was a security guard and a number of staff standing around,” Eli Roberts told new.com.au, describing a Coles store in Taylors Hill, Melbourne, this morning.

It comes as panic buying has gripped the nation, causing major supernmarket outlets to announce extreme restrictions.

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A security guard can be seen guarding toilet paper pallets

The photo was taken in Woolworths, Narabeen, today

Woolworths has followed Coles in reducing the amount of toilet paper customers can purchase as shoppers continue to strip shelves bare of any new stock.

The move comes just days after the major supermarket chains limited purchases to four packs per person.

Across the country, stores are running out of toilet paper in the face of coronavirus concerns. A fight erupted in a Sydney Woolworths store yesterday as tempers flared over limited supplies of toilet tissue.

This morning Coles said customers would be limited to one pack per transaction, both in-store and online.

“Unfortunately many stores are still selling out within an hour of delivery,” a Coles spokeswoman said.

“We have therefore made the decision to change the limit to one pack per customer so that toilet rolls are available for more of our customers, particularly the elderly and people who are unable to purchase in large volumes.

“Our suppliers have increased production and we are making additional deliveries to stores, while our team members work hard to restock shelves in stores.”

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

Shelves cleared of loo roll at Coles Grafton.

Coles said it “reluctantly” introduced its four pack limit earlier this week.

“The vast majority of products in our stores and via Coles online remain available for customers,” the spokeswoman continued.

“This additional measure will allow us to maintain stock levels in stores so more customers will be able to purchase the products they need.”

Coles emphasised the importance of not buying too much, saying: “A pack of 30 rolls should last an average family for around three weeks.”

Over the last week there has been an unprecedented demand for toilet paper. It is Coles' priority that everyone is able...

Posted by Coles on Saturday, 7 March 2020

This afternoon Woolworths followed its major rival in reducing the number of packs customers could purchase. However, Woolies is being more generous, allowing shoppers to take home two packs of toilet tissue rather than just one.

“The makers of Kleenex, Sorbent, Quilton and Woolworths own range of toilet paper are continuing to produce extra stock in Australian facilities to meet the demand,” a spokesman said.

“As a result, large volumes of toilet paper supply are flowing through daily to our stores nationwide.

“With this ongoing stock delivery, we encourage customers to continue purchasing only what they require.

“It’s worth noting that the vast majority of products aren’t affected and there aren’t significant shortages in most stores and online.”

5.55 in the morning. Taylors Hill. @9NewsMelb @theheraldsun @7NewsMelbourne #toiletpaperpanic #toiletpaperwars pic.twitter.com/aszxwfwMPV

— EliJack (@EliJack27497498) March 7, 2020

On Friday, both Coles and Woolworths reported huge delays on online deliveries as demand surged from customers.

Customers are being told they may have to wait up to a week for an available delivery window.

Both retailers usually offer same day delivery, if the order is placed early enough, or next day delivery.

It is typically only orders for “remote” locations that can take up to four days.

But now shoppers are being told it could be up to a week before the next available window for their order.

When news.com.au attempted to place an order with Coles on Friday to be delivered to an address in Sydney we were informed the earliest it could arrive would be next Thursday.

Queues at Aldi this morning for toilet paper #toiletpaperpanic #ToiletPaperApocalypse #toiletpaperwars pic.twitter.com/Dvh7Kt8imF

— Irfan Virk (@irfanvirk) March 7, 2020

Toilet paper is in short supply as Australians stock up.

Images of empty shelves in the toilet paper section have been circulating throughout the country and #toiletpaperwars has been trending on Twitter.

A picture of a family hoarding toilet paper has sparked outrage, with social media users wondering if toilet paper restrictions will do anything to stop them.

The picture shows a family leaving Stocklands at Wetheril Park around 2.00pm yesterday loaded up with toilet paper.

Although there’s only three in the family, they have a whopping two trolleys packed with loo roll.

Posted by Raquel Piaggio on Saturday, 7 March 2020

Long queues have appeared at supermarket doors with people waiting to get their hands on toilet paper as soon as it delivered.

Meanwhile, Aldi customers are slamming the supermarket giant for advertising special deals while failing to control toilet paper bulk buying.

On Friday evening, Aldi Australia posted a picture of their drill driver kit to promote their Saturday Special Buys of DIY and laundry essentials.

But instead of generating enthusiasm for the product, shoppers slammed Aldi for moving away from the real issue.

“I’d rather a few rolls of toilet paper,” one user wrote.

“NOT HAPPY ALDI,” another commented.

The women behind me at the Aldi check out #toiletpaper #coronavirusaustralia pic.twitter.com/XnenmvnQaR

— Sonia Giusto (@SoniaCrestpac) March 3, 2020

Calamity Security Founder Daniel Lewkovitz says the panic purchasing of toilet paper shows “people are going through completely poorly thought out and ill-conceived way of protecting themselves and their families”.

Panic buying because of coronavirus fears this week resulted in a number of physical altercations between shoppers over toilet rolls, leading security experts to question if Australians are prepared to handle emergency situations.

Mr Lewkovitz said security experts would advise an “all hazards approach, which is that if you prepare for certain emergencies, that preparation will actually cover you for others”.

He said “preparing for emergencies is something you really should be doing before emergency happens”.

The “toilet paper madness” is “causing people to act in an animal-like way,” he said. “It is probably causing some people to think, ‘is the end of the world coming?’”

News.com.au visited six supermarkets on Thursday, two in a Sydney inner suburb and a further four in middle ring suburbs. These included Woolworths, Coles and Aldi as well as an independent supermarket.

All were low on toilet paper as well as cleaning products, pasta, rice, oats, lentils and some frozen foods.

“Wow,” said a woman on her phone as she walked around stripped shelves at a Woolworths store in a Sydney suburb.

“This toilet paper thing really isn’t a joke. I thought it was just a meme – but there’s nothing here.”

What’s happening isn’t strictly speaking a shortage; Australians are just buying some things at a faster rate than stocks can be replenished.