Australia’s grocery demand right now amounts to ‘three Christmases in three weeks’

Australians are being urged to stop stockpiling groceries as Coles reveals sales over the past three weeks have been equivalent to three Christmases. 

As shoppers stripped shelves bare of toilet paper, tissues, pasta, meat and tinned food, the supermarkets have called for calm as they restock shelves.  

‘We’ve done three Christmases in three consecutive weeks from a standing start,’ Coles Chief Operations Officer, Matthew Swindells explained on Sunrise. 

‘Ordinarily we’d take six months to plan one Christmas. It’s not a problem of supply, it’s a problem of demand.’ 

Coles staff work to keep shelves stocked during the first Coles Community Hour at Coles Southland on March 18, 2020

Empty shelves of Toilet Rolls at Coles Supermarket, Parramatta in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020

Empty shelves of Toilet Rolls at Coles Supermarket, Parramatta in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020

Coles, Woolworths and Aldi have placed restrictions on almost all products as they work to meet the demand of the Australian population.  

‘We’re really focused on the essentials that customers are asking for,’ Mr Swindells continued. 

‘When you see that immediate lift in demand across the network, it punches a huge stock hole in our supply lines and it takes time to recover and that’s why we are wholeheartedly supporting the prime minister’s comments. 

‘Please, do not hoard products, there’s no need to panic, don’t stockpile and give us the time to turn all the dials that we’ve turned and get all the stock back on the shelves but it will take time and it will need cooperation between the Australian public and the retailers to work together on this.’ 

A shopper is seen at Coles after staff closed the stores early to restock shelves

A shopper is seen at Coles after staff closed the stores early to restock shelves 

Coles grocery limits 

Eggs – two packs per person.

Chilled pasta – two packs per person.

Frozen vegetables- two packs per person.

Frozen dessert – two packs per person.

Mince includes Beef, Pork, Lamb, Chicken & Turkey – two packs per person.

Flour – two packs per person.

Dried rice – two packs per person.

Paper towels/tissues – two packs per person.

Hand sanitisers – two packs per person.

The supermarket limited customers to two packs per person of eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert on Tuesday.

Coles has already imposed limits on mince meat, toilet paper and hand sanitiser after shelves were left bare. 

‘As the situation around coronavirus continues to develop, we want to ensure you have the most up to date information on product availability,’ Coles said in a statement on Sunday.

‘The purchase of mince, pasta, flour, dry rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitisers is limited to 2 items per customer.’

Coles also announced they won’t offer refunds on any additional items that were purchased as a result of panic buying. 

Pictured: A purchase restriction notice at a Coles in Sydney

Pictured: A purchase restriction notice at a Coles in Sydney

Elderly shoppers are seen waiting outside Woolworths in Sunbury for the dedicated shopping hour

Elderly shoppers are seen waiting outside Woolworths in Sunbury for the dedicated shopping hour

Woolworths grocery limits 

Dry Pasta – 2 pack limit per shop.

Flour – 2 pack limit per shop.

Tissues – 2 pack limit per shop.

Paper towel, serviettes and wipes – 1 pack limit per shop.

Toilet paper – 1 pack limit per shop.

Hand sanitiser – 2 unit limit per shop.

Bulk rice (2kg+) – 1 pack limit per shop.

Woolworths has also placed restrictions on items as they work to restock shelves around the country. 

Woolworths fresh food director Paul Harker said the elderly hour which launched on Tuesday had proved very popular.

He insists there weren’t food shortages despite reports of widespread of empty shelves.

‘There is no shortage of goods here in Australia,’ he told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

‘It is a logistics exercise of moving the product to get it back into stores with the pace and demand we’re seeing.’     

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on Australians to 'stop hoarding' products

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ products

In a press conference to the nation on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison begged Australians to ‘stop hoarding’ in fear of a lockdown as supermarket stores will remain open. 

 ‘I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it. It’s ridiculous. It’s un-Australian, and it must stop. It is not sensible and it is not helpful,’ Mr Morrison said.

‘It has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis. That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary.

‘There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown or anything like this. It is not something that people should be doing.’ 

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