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Coronavirus: What are shops doing about stockpiling? Coronavirus: What are shops doing about stockpiling?
(1 day later)
British supermarkets are being asked to pool resources during the coronavirus outbreak, in a bid to combat panic buying and restock empty shelves. Shoppers are being told to buy only what they need, following shortages caused by panic buying.
So, what can be done to get supplies back into stores?
How many people are panic buying?
Empty shelves in the UK's supermarkets have become a common sight.
The increase in demand has been similar to that seen at Christmas, according to Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary George Eustice.
It has caused shortages of many products, including:
"There is £1bn more food in people's houses than there was three weeks ago, so we should make sure we eat some of it," said head of the British Retail Consortium, Helen Dickinson.
What is the government doing about panic buying?What is the government doing about panic buying?
Retailers say they have enough food and groceries to go round, but they are struggling to get items into stores as fast as people are buying them
Rules have been relaxed by the government to allow supermarkets to work together.Rules have been relaxed by the government to allow supermarkets to work together.
This means supermarkets can now share resources, such as distribution depots, delivery vans and staff, as well as co-ordinating stock levels across the country. This means they can share resources, such as distribution depots, delivery vans and staff, as well as co-ordinating stock levels across the country.
Rules around drivers' hours have also been loosened to help get more food delivered to stores, while the 5p plastic bag charge is being waived for online orders to speed up deliveries. Rules around drivers' hours have been eased and the 5p plastic bag charge is being waived for online orders, to speed up deliveries.
Supermarket delivery hours were also extended earlier in March to help shops remain stocked. Nevertheless, shortages remain common.
However, both Prime Minister Boris Johnson and supermarkets have stressed that shoppers should be sensible when buying food and groceries. "Buying more than you need means that others may be left without," said Mr Eustice. "As you shop think of those who are finishing their late shifts and need to pop to their local shops."
How are supermarkets trying to stop panic buying?How are supermarkets trying to stop panic buying?
The major supermarkets are imposing limits on how many of each item people can buy. The major supermarkets are imposing limits on how many of each item people can buy:
On Thursday, Sainsbury's dedicated the first hour of opening in stores, apart from its Local shops, to elderly and vulnerable customers. What else is being done for customers?
Iceland has also been opening an hour early for elderly and vulnerable people, and Tesco and Waitrose are introducing similar schemes. Tesco told the BBC that it had received positive feedback to its scheme after the first day. However, it added that some of its stores were still very busy and that it was working round the clock to get products on shelves. On Thursday, Sainsbury's dedicated the first hour of opening in stores, apart from its Local shops, to elderly and vulnerable customers. It has since extended that to include NHS staff and social care workers.
Retail expert Katie Hardcastle, believes supermarkets could do more to improve their elderly hour schemes. Iceland has also been opening an hour early for elderly and vulnerable people, and Tesco and Waitrose are introducing similar schemes
"The few elderly people I've been in contact said that when they did go, it was quieter and they were appreciative of having those stock levels there," she said. However, retail expert Katie Hardcastle, said supermarkets could still do more: "A lot of elderly people need support with their shopping, or are not looking to go out at all, so I think that needs looking at."
"But a lot of elderly people need support with their shopping or are not looking to go out at all, so I think that needs looking at."
Morrisons has said it will take on 500 staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops to help the elderly and vulnerable in stores across Great Britain.Morrisons has said it will take on 500 staff from Marie Curie and CLIC Sargent charity shops to help the elderly and vulnerable in stores across Great Britain.
Supermarkets have taken other action too. Services like cafes and deli counters have been shut by Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose, to allow more staff to focus on tasks like restocking shelves.
Tesco has said it will introduce distancing measures at checkouts to reduce the risk of infection.
And it is also going to introduce a special hour in its large stores on a Sunday morning for its own staff and NHS workers to shop.And it is also going to introduce a special hour in its large stores on a Sunday morning for its own staff and NHS workers to shop.
Aldi is installing clear screens at all its checkouts from next week to protect staff and customers and is shortening its opening hours to close at 20:00. Many stores, including Tesco, Asda, Aldi, and Lidl have said they are hiring thousands of staff to meet the unprecedented demand. Some have shut cafes and deli counters to allow more staff to focus on restocking shelves.
Both Asda and Lidl have announced nationwide recruitment drives for temporary staff to help restock shelves, drive delivery vans and provide catering services to feed employees. Asda is looking to hire 5,000 employees, while Lidl is seeking 2,500 additional staff. Tesco has said it will introduce distancing measures at checkouts to reduce the risk of infection and Aldi is installing clear screens at all its checkouts.
Why there could soon be less choiceWhy there could soon be less choice
Meanwhile, several food retailers are "drastically cutting" the range of products they sell. They are also telling manufacturers to stop making some products to focus on those for which there is greatest demand. Several food retailers are "drastically cutting" the range of products they sell. They are also telling manufacturers to stop making some products to focus on those for which there is greatest demand.
For example, one retailer, which makes 60 kinds of sausages, will only produce a fraction of those.For example, one retailer, which makes 60 kinds of sausages, will only produce a fraction of those.
And Morrisons have reduced their bakery lines from 17 to seven. And Morrisons has reduced its bakery lines from 17 to seven.
Are online deliveries holding up?Are online deliveries holding up?
Online deliveries are being used by more people, but there are questions over how robust the systems are.Online deliveries are being used by more people, but there are questions over how robust the systems are.
Ocado has taken its website offline until the weekend and has also closed its app because of heavy traffic. Ocado suspended its website and app after struggling with the number of bookings.
Some Tesco deliveries are not arriving in their scheduled time slot and others are not being delivered at all if the driver runs out of time to reach all the addresses on the list. Some Tesco deliveries are not arriving in their scheduled time slot and others are not being delivered at all if the driver runs out of time.
Most of the major supermarkets have all their delivery slots booked up for at least the next couple of weeks. Most major supermarkets have all their delivery slots booked up for at least the next couple of weeks.
Morrisons said it would increase its number of delivery slots by recruiting 2,500 extra pickers and drivers.Morrisons said it would increase its number of delivery slots by recruiting 2,500 extra pickers and drivers.
Sainsbury's says it is going to prioritise delivery slots for elderly and vulnerable people, and said it could identify who was eligible through its customer data. Sainsbury's says it is going to prioritise delivery slots for elderly and vulnerable people.
How many people are panic-buying?
Social media is full of reports of empty shop shelves, with similar scenes in countries such as Australia, the US, South Africa and Japan.
At the moment, we don't have any official data on the scale of stockpiling in the UK.
But the main items on supermarkets' restricted list include:
What is the advice on stockpiling?
The government has said there is no reason for anybody to stockpile.
Mr Johnson said: "We are absolutely confident our supply chains are working, and will work, and we will get "farm to fork" food supplies.
"Therefore people should have no reason to stockpile or panic-buy."
Public Health England has said that people should plan ahead and think what they will need, if they have to self-isolate for at least seven days.
The advice is that they should ask friends or family to drop off anything they need, or order supplies online. Any deliveries should be left outside their homes.
The Competition and Markets Authority watchdog has warned retailers not to "exploit" fears about coronavirus by dramatically increasing the price of protective goods like hand gels and face masks.