Supermarkets draw up emergency plans to ‘feed the nation’ if coronavirus causes mass shutdown – amid fears panic-buying could spark food riots and empty shelves
- Shops have seen a surge in panic buying fuelled by the coronavirus crisis
- A major outbreak in Britain would cause ‘food riots’, former Tesco executive said
- Supermarkets have now drawn up contingency plans to ‘feed the nation’
Shops have seen a surge in panic buying fuelled by the coronavirus crisis – and supermarkets have now drawn up contingency plans to ‘feed the nation’ in the event of a sudden escalation.
With two chains already rationing sales, a former Tesco executive said a major outbreak in Britain would ‘quickly lead to empty shelves and food riots’.
Ocado has emailed customers to warn it is running out of home delivery slots due to ‘exceptionally high demand’ and ‘particularly large orders’.
Waitrose reported ‘seeing more demand for… cleaning products and hand sanitisers’, and Tesco’s website has sold out of hand gel.
Lidl said it is ‘experiencing a significant increase in demand for durable products and disinfectants’.
With two chains already rationing sales, a former Tesco executive said a major outbreak in Britain would ‘quickly lead to empty shelves and food riots’ (file image)
It has now limited sales of hand sanitisers to two per customer – as has Boots.
Industry experts insist that supermarkets have contingency plans to cope with a worst-case scenario and, despite the pressure, will ensure food remains on shelves.
Under the plans, supermarkets would work alongside suppliers to scale back the variety of available foods and groceries, instead paying attention to maintaining the supply of staple products, the Guardian reported.
However, senior food markets analyst Bruno Monteyne, a former Tesco executive, warned: ‘If a major [coronavirus] outbreak happens, that will quickly lead to panic buying, empty shelves and food riots.’
Mr Monteyne, who now works for stockbrokers Bernstein, told industry magazine The Grocer: ‘Plans are surely being drawn up with suppliers to rationalise product ranges when necessary. The objective isn’t to scaremonger… the industry has plans to deal with this.
Ged Futter, a former senior buyer at Asda, said supermarkets were reluctant to admit to shortages for fear of making matters worse (file image)
‘Yes, it will be chaotic – and expect pictures of empty shelves – but the industry will keep the country fed.’
The British Retail Consortium’s director of food and sustainability, Andrew Opie, insisted: ‘Disruption to supply chains has been limited, and the availability of products remains good. Retailers are working closely with their suppliers and monitoring consumer behaviour to anticipate changes in future demand.’
Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation, added: ‘At this stage supply chains have experienced disruption but there is no evidence of significant disruption to food supplies.’
However, Ged Futter, a former senior buyer at Asda, said supermarkets were reluctant to admit to shortages for fear of making matters worse.
Mr Futter, now director at consultancy firm The Retail Mind, said: ‘The last thing retailers will want to talk about is rationing. As soon as you mention rationing it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and the food equivalent of a run on the banks.’