Supermarkets introduce extremely strict restrictions on nearly EVERY item as coronavirus panic-buying leave shelves stripped bare
- Coles supermarkets continue to place buying restriction on essential items
- The supermarket giant added chilled milk, including plant-based milk to the list
- Supermarket shelves have been stripped bare as result of panic buying
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Coles has introduced new buying restrictions on everyday items in a bid to curb coronavirus pancic-buying at its stores.
From Wednesday the supermarket giant will place restrictions on all chilled white milk, including plant-based non-dairy & goats milk.
Customers will be limited to two lots of each item.
Coles said the move was to ensure more shoppers could access the everyday essentials in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
Supermarket giant Coles has added more essential items to its restricted purchasing list in an attempt to curve panic buying and make sure everyone has access
Coles has introduced new buying restrictions on products as shoppers continue to panic-buy as the coronavirus crisis escalates (pictured: Empty fridges at Coles)
It comes one day after the supermarket announced the same restrictions on eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen dessert.
Coles had already introduced purchasing limits on mince meat, toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
‘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.’
Woolworths also announced a limit of two items from ‘any single category’ to help cope with the surge in demand.
Coles also announced it won’t offer refunds on any additional items that were purchased as a result of panic-buying.
Chief executive officer Steven Cain said staff were working ‘as hard as possible’ to ensure shelves were sufficiently stocked.
‘As the situation around coronavirus continues to develop, we believe that everyone in the community should have access to their share of grocery items, particularly the elderly,’ he said.
A spokeswoman for Coles pleaded for customers to show ‘respect and compassion’ for its exhausted staff.
‘Coles team members and suppliers have been working as hard as possible delivering more products to stores every day and stocking shelves as quickly as possible,’ a statement said.
Coles has pleaded with customers to show respect and compassion when shopping for essentials and to support staff who are working hard to provide
There are more than 450 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia and five people have died
‘We ask for customers to continue to respect, show compassion and support our team members in stores and our Customer Care and Coles Online call centres, particularly if a product is unavailable or if the checkout queues are longer than normal.
‘We have significantly increased the number of team members working in our stores to support this level of unprecedented demand and are actively recruiting for more than 5,000 more casual team members.
The supermarket has been making adjustments to operating procedures in an effort to keep up with the demand.
‘We believe all Australians deserve the right to access their share of grocery items, particularly the elderly and the vulnerable,’ Coles CEO Steven Cain said.