Supermarkets in Far North bring back purchasing limits as SEQ floods hurt supply chains

Limits on grocery items have returned as Brisbane’s floods lead to empty shelves in the Far North. Find out how it affects you.

THE flow-on effects of the South-East Queensland floods have created disruptions for shoppers in the Far North

Edmonton Piccones IGA general manager Trent Haddow said most of the store’s stock is being delayed by a day or two.

“Rail transport is out until further notice but we’ve been getting our groceries through the trucks, they’ve been getting through,” he said.

With a bulk of supplies coming from Brisbane, Mr Haddow said the main supply issue has been getting fresh produce delivered.

The widespread flooding in South-East Queensland and Northern New South Wales has seen a shortage of some grocery supplies and fresh fruit and vegetables. Piccones IGA Edmonton store manager Heath Randall has plenty of fresh produce in store as the majority of his fruit and vegetables is sourced from the Tablelands. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We’re getting it from a pop-up shop in our grocery warehouse,” he said.

“There’ll be fresh produce by early next week.”

Mr Haddow said he expects the disruption to calm by the end of the month and hasn’t seen any panic buying.

Piccones IGA still has limits on toilet paper to one per customer and rice to two per customer.

Sign at Woolworths on Abbott St in Cairns noting the impact of SEQ flooding. Picture: Yashee Sharma.

Woolworths staff on Abbott St said the flood have limited stock but said restrictions are “not as bad as last time.”

Road and rail closures mean there’s a limit of two packs per customer for water, paper towels, facial tissues, flour, rice, long life and fresh milk and selected meat items. Bulk water and toilet paper are one pack per customer.

Originally published as Supermarkets in Far North bring back purchasing limits as SEQ floods hurt supply chains