Melbourne shoppers have flocked to supermarkets ahead of fresh restrictions

Anxious Victorians rushed to supermarkets on Sunday ahead tighter restrictions with meat selling like hot cakes as shoppers stocked up freezers and pantries.

Leah Birch and Laura Kretuik stock up as a huge lines of shoppers queue to enter Costco in Docklands. Picture: Paul Jeffers

Anxious Victorians rushed to supermarkets on Sunday ahead of the tightening of restrictions with meat selling like hot cakes as shoppers stocked up freezers and pantries.

Under the new restrictions, only one person per household is allowed go to the supermarket each day and shopping for food and necessary supplies will only be allowed within 5km of your home or at the nearest available supermarket.

Purchasing limits on dried, frozen and fresh food are also being reintroduced by major supermarkets.

On Sunday queues stretched through the carpark at bulk-foods chain Costco in Ringwood in Melbourne‘s far northeast while the Docklands’ store had the lines for the checkout running 30 deep.

Shopper Laura Kretiuk had messaged friends on Saturday night about people panic buying ahead of Stage 4 restrictions but was still unprepared for the scenes at her local Coles in Brimbank just before 9am.

Lines of shoppers seen at Woolworths South Melbourne. Picture: Paul Jeffers

“It was just crazy. I messaged my girlfriend (Leah Birch) to not bother coming,” she said.

Instead Ms Kretiuk and Ms Birch went to Costco which was already packed at 11am.

“I get that tomorrow ­(Monday) is going to be worse because of this announcement,” she said.

“The trolleys were full with husbands pushing one trolley and the wife pushing another. Everyone was wearing masks.”

Ms Kretiuk said she bought what she considered the necessities like noodles and toilet paper.

Fresh meat was in high demand however with Ms Kretiuk unable to purchase chicken and Ms Birch could only buy one tray of steak.

“We’re lucky Uber Eats is still in action because that’s what we’re having tonight,” she said.

Ms Birch said the rumours of panic buying had pushed her to go shopping on Sunday and the large crowd seemed to also have heard the news.

“I remember last (lockdown) being so frustrated, so I’ve just bought the bare essentials,” she said.

“I don’t take on that panic buying but I have to do (the shopping) anyway.”

While it was easy to stock up on pasta and toilet paper, Ms Birch said her husband ended up going to the local butcher to pick up meat, and she was concerned infections at abattoirs could lead to meat shortages.

Shoppers poured out of Costco with faces covered and trollies full. Picture: Paul Jeffers

“Me, personally, I will eat pasta if I have to. I don’t think we’re going to starve,” she said.

“I think if you can at least get fresh fruit and vegetables you will be okay.”

Supermarkets across Melbourne had different setups for shoppers with every other checkout lane and self-checkout at the Woolworths in Armadale, in Melbourne’s inner-south, blocked off but no similar restriction at the South Melbourne store.

Woolworths has reintroduced purchase limits in Victorian stores on at least 50 products after demand soared after a stage-four coronavirus lockdown was flagged.

Victorian shoppers will only be allowed to purchase two items of goods such as toilet paper, handwash, pasta and rice as well meat, fish and dairy products.

As well, there will be a 1kg limit to meat, small goods and poultry purchases from the deli as well as a 2kg limit for carrots, onions and potatoes.

Woolworths Supermarkets managing director Claire Peters said the supermarket chain was an essential service and would remain open.

“We understand this is an anxious time for our Victorian customers, but we encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need,“ she said.

“Stock will continue to flow from our distribution centres and as an essential service, Woolworths supermarkets remain open to support customers’ food and grocery needs.’’