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Coronavirus: Supermarkets cast doubt on minister's food supply claim | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Supermarkets have cast doubts on an assurance from the health secretary that food supplies would not be disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak. | |
On Thursday, Matt Hancock said: "We are working with the supermarkets to make sure that, if people are self-isolating, then we will be able to get the food and supplies that they need." | |
But supermarket sources said they had not discussed getting food to homes. | |
One executive said he was "baffled" by the suggestions. | One executive said he was "baffled" by the suggestions. |
An executive told BBC business editor Simon Jack: "Matt Hancock has totally made up what he said about working with supermarkets. We haven't heard anything from government directly." | |
He added that sales of cupboard basics such as pasta and tinned goods have "gone through the roof". | |
While the supermarket was largely keeping up with demand, teams were working "round the clock" to keep shelves stocked, he said. | |
"We are using processes and staffing levels we set up in case of a no-deal Brexit." | |
The executive added: "While I think people don't need to panic buy and should just shop normally, I'm not sure the government can guarantee all food supply in all instances." | |
There was no suggestion that there were food shortages, but people bringing forward some purchases was creating logistical challenges, he said. | |
Mr Hancock, who was answering a question from a member of the BBC Question Time audience, also said the government was "confident" food supplies would not run out and there was "absolutely no need" to panic-buy. | |
But a source at another supermarket said while it had had some overarching discussion with government departments about overall readiness, it had not a conversation about ensuring uninterrupted food supplies. | |
When asked specifically about Mr Hancock's comments, the supermarket said it did not recognise them. | When asked specifically about Mr Hancock's comments, the supermarket said it did not recognise them. |
A source at a rival supermarket also raised concerns over whether online deliveries could meet the demands of large numbers of people in self-isolation, with online delivery usually making up only 6-7% of the overall market. | |
"We can't switch a whole load of new vans on overnight," the source said. | |
Downing Street said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had regular meetings with the food industry to discuss risks to the supply chain, with a working group due to meet on Friday. | |
"Defra will continue to work on this issue. We have resilient supply chains," a No 10 spokesman said. | |
The British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets, said there had been only limited disruption to supply chains so far and availability of products on shelves remained good. | |
For self-isolating customers, it said, most retailers would be more than happy to deliver online orders to doorsteps. | |
There have been 163 cases of the virus in the UK and a woman in her 70s with underlying health conditions has died. | |
She was admitted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading and died after testing positive for the virus. |