Woolworths will close supermarkets early this Wednesday so it can restock stores as panic buying continues across Australia.
All 995 stores across the country will shut at 8pm and re-open at 7am on Thursday.
‘We want to slow the panic down,’ Woolworths managing director Claire Peters said.
‘We understand that our customers’ priority is to be prepared, but the vast majority of our food is grown or manufactured in Australia so there is not a concern with supply. What we have is a spike in demand.’
Coles will also close all 807 of its stores at 8pm from Wednesday to clean and re-stock shelves and has suspended home deliveries except for the most vulnerable customers.
The supermarket will also follow Woolworths by allowing only the elderly and disabled to enter stores between 7am and 8am, starting on Wednesday.
Around 1,000 Woolworths stores will shut at 8pm and re-open at 7am on Thursday
Woolworths announced plans are underway to increase the supply of toilet paper, which is selling seven weeks’ worth per day.
‘Loo roll is a large cube that takes up a lot of space on trucks. But the great news is we are seeing huge support from our suppliers that have changed their lines to different packs sizes so more customers can get their hands on packs,’ Ms Peters said.
Woolworths also announced it is suspending online deliveries in Victoria – where it had ‘extraordinary’ demand – to focus on keeping supermarkets stocked.
The company’s sales last weekend hit a 12-month high.
On Sunday night Woolworths became the first supermarket giant to announce it will open early with a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly and disabled to stock up without being caught up in the panic buying chaos.
Most stores across the nation will open to the vulnerable exclusively from 7am to 8am, starting Tuesday until at least Friday.
Panic sparked by the spread of coronavirus in Australia has seen supermarkets stripped of long-life essentials such as toilet paper, pasta and tinned and other dried food and shoppers embroiled in ugly confrontations over limited stock.
‘The move has been prompted by the unprecedented demand in supermarkets over the past week, which has seen many elderly and vulnerable people in the community missing out on vital items they may need when they shop,’ Woolworths announced on Monday.
‘While we’ll continue to do our very best to restock our stores during this period of unprecedented demand, we know many of our elderly customers have been missing out on essential items when they shop,’ managing director Claire Peters said.
‘This temporary measure will give them, and those with a disability, the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open – helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment. ‘
Shoppers must have a government issued seniors or disability card to be granted early access.
Stores will open to other customers from 8am.
A Woolworths spokesman said: ‘The service is intended for those who are most vulnerable in the community, so we’ll be accepting seniors cards, pensioner concession cards, disability related healthcare cards or parking permits.
‘Our stores will also apply common sense when it comes to other customers with extenuating circumstances, such as carers and those with specific medical needs.
‘We don’t expect it’ll be a perfect process, but we believe it’s the right thing to do in the circumstances we’re facing.
‘We urge our customers to help us make it work by respecting the intent with which we’re introducing it.’
Coles will shut all stores at 8pm every night and employ an extra 5,000 staff to restock shelves amid the coronavirus pandemic
Coles will shut all of its 807 stores at 8pm every night from Wednesday to restock shelves which have been emptied due to coronavirus panic buying.
The supermarket will also follow Woolworths by allowing only the elderly and disabled to enter stores between 7am and 8am. The scheme starts on Wednesday.
The company has temporarily suspended home deliveries – except for vulnerable customers – to focus on keeping stores stocked.
Coles is also hiring 5,000 casual workers, including delivery drivers, as it deals with a massive surge in demand.
CEO Steven Cain said: ‘Coles is taking all possible steps to improve the level of stock on our shelves for the community.
‘Our team members, suppliers and transport partners have been working as hard as possible delivering more products to stores every day and replenishing shelves of popular products such as toilet paper, long-life pantry staples and healthcare items as quickly as possible.’
Coles will shut all stores at 8pm every night to restock shelves which have been emptied due to coronavirus panic buying. Pictured: Coles in Waterloo, Sydney