Panic buying threatens toilet paper supply with some products ‘depleted from shelves’

Panic buying of toilet paper across Australia could now threaten the nation’s supplies, Sorbent’s maker says.

Some products might not be able to be replenished fast enough as the panic buying continues.

Panic buying of toilet paper, hand towels and other personal hygiene products, that has seen products stripped from supermarket shelves by fearful shoppers fretting over the spread of the coronavirus, has reached a fever pitch that the owner of popular toilet paper brand Sorbent has warned supplies to supermarkets could now be threatened.

It might force suppliers to allocate strict supply volumes to the supermarkets.

It was hoped earlier that despite panic buying of toilet paper this week as fears grow of a spread to Australia of the coronavirus, that there would be enough tissues and other products to spare.

However, on Wednesday Solaris Paper, the company that owns the Sorbent brand, has warned the panic buying it and its supermarket customers across Australia are witnessing could now threaten the nation’s supplies and its ability to replenish the supermarket chains.

“Concerns over the coronavirus contagion have resulted in widespread panic buying. While Sorbent Paper is working to build and manage demand, its ability to maintain ample supply of its tissue products of toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towel and wipes to its retail customers will be dependent on retail offtake volumes,’’ Solaris said in a statement supplied to The Australian.

Some of its toilet paper products might not be able to be replenished fast enough as the panic buying continues.

“Some products may have been depleted from shelves; replenishment should catch up however any sustained panic buying in the volumes seen in recent days will be certain to stress supply,’’ the statement said.

“Stock shortage with allocations may in some cases be necessary.

“In the meantime, Sorbent will be working very closely with trading partners on best options to ease the demand stress and seek mutually beneficial outcomes under the difficult circumstances.”

Earlier this morning Woolworths confirmed it had initiated customer limits for certain grocery items.

We’ve implemented a 4 packet limit on toilet paper to ensure more customers can access stock. The vast majority of products in our range remain available & we're working hard with our suppliers to ramp up production & deliveries to restock shelves ASAP.https://t.co/1TUo2cwc41

— Woolworths (@woolworths) March 3, 2020

“Woolworths has today moved to apply a quantity limit on toilet paper packs to ensure more customers have access to the products,’’ a Woolworths spokeswoman said.

“The purchase limit of four packs per transaction applies in-store and online, and will help shore up stock as suppliers ramp up local production in response to higher than usual demand.

“Our teams are continuing to work hard on restocking stores with extra deliveries of long-life food and household staples from our distribution centres. The vast majority of the products ranged in our stores remain available for our customers as normal.”

US warehouse retailer Costco on Tuesday saw its stock of toilet paper completely sold out in two of its Australian outlets.