Woolworths puts another 1.5million bottles of hand sanitiser and 500,000 packets of pasta on the shelves as supermarket stocks return to normal following weeks of panic-buying

  • Around 1.5M bottles of sanitised and 500K packets of pasta to be in Woolworths
  • Woolworths has lifted buying restrictions on in-demand grocery products 
  • Limits were first introduced in response to coronavirus panic-buying hysteria 
  • But the coronavirus panic buying is finally beginning to stabilise in stores
  • Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

By Claudia Poposki and Brittany Chain For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 03:49 BST, 18 April 2020 | Updated: 03:49 BST, 18 April 2020

Woolworths has announced they are expecting an influx of pasta and hand sanitiser to hit the shelves this week.

CEO Brad Banducci announced there would be 1.5 million units of hand sanitiser and 500,000 packets of pasta in stores across the country this week. 

‘These are big quantities but with demand still high, supply will remain patchy in parts,’ he said.

He also gave an update on the supply of toilet paper.   

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci announced there would be 1.5 million units of hand sanitiser and 500,000 packets of pasta in stores across the country this week. Shelves were stripped bare across the nation as people stocked up in fear of a coronavirus lockdown

Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci announced there would be 1.5 million units of hand sanitiser and 500,000 packets of pasta in stores across the country this week. Shelves were stripped bare across the nation as people stocked up in fear of a coronavirus lockdown

He said supply isn't returned to normal but there is  a drop in how much people are buying

He said supply isn't returned to normal but there is  a drop in how much people are buying

He said supply isn’t returned to normal but there is  a drop in how much people are buying

‘Supply isn’t back to normal yet, but it continues to improve as demand tapers, with ‘only’ 11.5 million rolls sold this week,’ he said.

The week before stores sold 15 million rolls of toilet paper and 20 million the week before that.

Mr Banducci’s update comes as Woolworths lifts restrictions on two serves of canned vegetables and legumes, canned tomatoes, serviettes and most baby products, however wipes are still excluded.

‘With shopping habits beginning to return to more regular levels and product availability getting better and better every day, limits were lifted on the products yesterday,’ a spokesman told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 

Mr Banducci was forced to introduce buying limits on basically every in-store item on March 18 as hysteria surrounding COVID-19 encouraged people to buy up certain products in bulk.

But he said last week spending habits finally appeared to be stabilising. 

Last week stores sold 15 million rolls of toilet paper and 20 million the week before that

Last week stores sold 15 million rolls of toilet paper and 20 million the week before that

Last week stores sold 15 million rolls of toilet paper and 20 million the week before that

Stores were forced to introduce customer limits and buying limits to keep shelves stocked - but some restrictions have now been lifted

Stores were forced to introduce customer limits and buying limits to keep shelves stocked - but some restrictions have now been lifted

Stores were forced to introduce customer limits and buying limits to keep shelves stocked – but some restrictions have now been lifted

Pictured: One man took extra precautions before shopping in Woolworths amid the coronavirus pandemic by wearing full protective gear

Pictured: One man took extra precautions before shopping in Woolworths amid the coronavirus pandemic by wearing full protective gear

Pictured: One man took extra precautions before shopping in Woolworths amid the coronavirus pandemic by wearing full protective gear

Supermarkets throughout the nation have been scrambling to increase supply from manufacturers to keep up with the demand.

And while Woolworths is starting to get on top of the frenzy, Mr Banducci discouraged people from using it as an opportunity to begin stockpiling again.

‘Like every week so far, I’d still ask you to only buy what you need,’ he said. 

Buying limits remain in place for flour, dried pasta, rice, pasta sauce and toilet paper for the foreseeable future.

On April 3, Coles lifted restrictions on all meat products and fresh milk.

People are seen queued up outside a Woolworths in Melbourne before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

People are seen queued up outside a Woolworths in Melbourne before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

People are seen queued up outside a Woolworths in Melbourne before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

A man wears a face mask at a checkout in a Woolworths supermarket in Coburg, Melbourne to slow the spread of COVID-19

A man wears a face mask at a checkout in a Woolworths supermarket in Coburg, Melbourne to slow the spread of COVID-19

A man wears a face mask at a checkout in a Woolworths supermarket in Coburg, Melbourne to slow the spread of COVID-19

People are seen queued up outside an Aldi store before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

People are seen queued up outside an Aldi store before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

People are seen queued up outside an Aldi store before it even opened hoping to get their hands on supplies

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 6,526

New South Wales: 2,936

Victoria: 1,319

Queensland: 1,014

South Australia: 435

Western Australia: 541

Australian Capital Territory: 103

Tasmania: 184

Northern Territory: 28

TOTAL CASES:  6,560 

RECOVERED: 4,132 

DEAD: 69

Coles Meat General Manager Charlotte Gilbert said the supermarket had worked with farmers to double meat supplies in the two weeks prior to lifting restrictions as Australians continue to stock up at unprecedented rates.

‘We have seen demand for meat increase astronomically as customers need to cook at home more often, with over 5 million packs sold over the past four weeks,’ Ms Gilbert said.

The Australian government has indicated it will look at slowly loosening restrictive social distancing measures in some parts of the nation if the curve continues to flatten.

But the government wants a sustained period of low transmission and has made clear the hard border closures will remain in place for the foreseeable future. 

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