Firms hit by coronavirus panic-buying ‘significantly increase’ production


Firms are ramping up production to cope with the massive demand brought on by coronavirus – as terrified Britons strip supermarket shelves of essentials. 

Shops including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose are looking increasingly desolate as people begin stockpiling household goods.

Pictures show empty aisles as sections for hand soap and disinfectant, nappies and baby wipes as well as dried goods such as pasta and rice are cleared. 

Thirty-four new cases of the coronavirus were diagnosed in the UK today – the biggest one-day rise so far – and a total of 85 people in Britain have now caught it. 

Supermarkets have told of how they are putting plans in place to cope with the unprecedented demand – as the number of cases is expected to rise. 

Firms have ramped up production and are working at ‘full capacity’ to ensure shelves can be re-stocked as analysts predict retailers ‘will keep the country fed.’

It comes as the new chief of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey today warned businesses will need a bailout from government to get over the crisis.   

A London supermarket’s toilet paper aisle is left bare amid reports of stockpiling across the UK

Harrogate, North Yorkshire: This is the empty handsoap section in the historic town's Morrisons

Harrogate, North Yorkshire: This is the empty handsoap section in the historic town’s Morrisons

A spokesman for PZ Cussons, which owns the popular Carex brand, spoke of how supermarket shortages were due to demand for its products.

‘We have significantly increased the production of Carex hand gel and hand wash products, with our manufacturing facilities working at full capacity in response to the exceptional demand being experienced,’ he added. 

‘We continue to work closely with our retail partners to ensure they are supplied as quickly as possible.’

Sainsbury’s said that ‘due to increased demand we have limited availability across our antibacterial ranges. We are working with our suppliers to secure more stock.’

It is not only cleaning materials that have been popular with customers.

Items including toilet rolls, crisps, bottled water, and pasta as well as ‘mega packs’ of detergents, dishwasher tablets and disinfectant have been snapped up. 

Senior food markets analyst Bruno Monteyne, a former Tesco executive, warned earlier this week: ‘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.

‘Yes, it will be chaotic – and expect pictures of empty shelves – but the industry will keep the country fed.’

Andrew Bailey warned there would be 'damage' to the economy from the virus, saying small firms in particular would need help

Andrew Bailey warned there would be ‘damage’ to the economy from the virus, saying small firms in particular would need help

Waitrose is among the supermarkets to put plans in place.    

A spokesman said: ‘We are seeing more demand for some products such as cleaning products and hand sanitisers. 

We are in regular contact with our suppliers and are continuing to monitor our supply chains closely to ensure that we have stock available.’ 

He added: ‘ ‘We are asking online grocery customers to let us know if they are self isolating so we can arrange where they would like their shopping to be dropped off outside their home. We believe we are the first to do this in the UK. 

‘As a responsible retailer, we are doing this temporarily to keep our customers and our drivers safe.’

The spokesman added that there was no rationing system in place at the moment.    

Andrew Opie, Director of Food & Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, a trade association for all UK retailers, also spoke of how supermarkets are planning ahead.

He said: ‘Retailers are working with their suppliers to maintain their stocks and to plan ahead in case of any disruption caused by coronavirus. Together, they will ensure that consumers are able to shop as normal with the best possible choice of products in their stores.’

Govan, Glasgow: The fruit and veg section and the bakery section of this Scottish Asda store was bare last night

Govan, Glasgow: The fruit and veg section and the bakery section of this Scottish Asda store was bare last night

Govan, Glasgow: The fruit and veg section and the bakery section of this Scottish Asda store was bare last night

Cribbs Causeway, Bristol: This Asda has also run out of pasta and there are only a few packs of rice

Cribbs Causeway, Bristol: This Asda has also run out of pasta and there are only a few packs of rice

Osterley, west London: There is barely a bottle of handsoap in this branch of Tesco

Osterley, west London: There is barely a bottle of handsoap in this branch of Tesco

Pimlico, London: There was not a single bag of pasta available in this Sainsbury's store last night

Pimlico, London: There was not a single bag of pasta available in this Sainsbury’s store last night

On the issue of hygiene products like hand gel and soap, he said: ‘Sales of hand sanitiser have risen as individuals and businesses make sensible precautions to reduce the spread of coronavirus. Retailers are also taking necessary steps to meet the rise in demand for certain hygiene products.’

He added: ‘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. Retailers are also taking necessary steps to meet the rise in demand for certain hygiene products.’

Despite the decision to plan ahead by supermarkets and manufactures, the new chief of the Bank of England warned today that businesses will need a bailout from government to get over the ‘shock’ of coronavirus. 

Andrew Bailey warned there would be ‘damage’ to the economy from the virus, saying small firms in particular would need help.

With a week to go until Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivers the Budget, Mr Bailey said will have to be ‘supply chain finance’ in the ‘not very distant future’ 

The comments came as the economist – due to take over from current governor Mark Carney later this month – gave evidence to MPs on the Treasury Select Committee. 

A Sainsbury's shopper in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, has spotted this display containing items Britons have been stockpiling in case there is a China-style shutdown over coronavirus

A Sainsbury’s shopper in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, has spotted this display containing items Britons have been stockpiling in case there is a China-style shutdown over coronavirus

One committed MailOnline reader has built up 3 months worth of food and water for his family of four

One committed MailOnline reader has built up 3 months worth of food and water for his family of four

One committed MailOnline reader has built up  3 months worth of food and water for his family of four 

There is mounting speculation that the Bank will step in to boost the economy as coronavirus sweeps the globe. 

Giving evidence to the Treasury committee for the final time before he steps down as governor on March 15, Mr Carney revealed the Bank is considering whether to cut official interest rates from 0.75 per cent. 

He told MPs the Bank’s monetary policy committee is ‘assessing the economic impacts and considering the policy implications’. 

A cut would drive down the cost of borrowing for households and businesses, giving them breathing space if the economy slows down. 

Asked by MPs if a cut was imminent, Mr Carney indicated a decision would not be made before March 26.

His appearance came just hours before the US Federal Reserve announced it was cutting rates by half a percentage point to a target range of between 1 per cent and 1.25 per cent.   

The news comes as people in the UK today shared photos of their coronavirus stockpiles with cupboards stacked with food and toiletries in case the country goes into lockdown.

One said he was simply renaming his ‘Brexit cupboard’ in preparation for a disaster.

Others shared pictures of piles of chocolate and crisps they plan to rely on if food supplies are hit by an epidemic in the UK. 

Britain’s supermarkets have also been accused of setting up ‘doomsday’ displays in stores and online aimed at worried stockpiling ‘survivalist’ shoppers. 

All the best selling suggested items on Amazon’s Fresh website in grocery and beauty all appear to similar items being bought in bulk across the UK.

And one customer at the Sainsbury’s store in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, photographed the display close to the checkout – James Woolnough told MailOnline: ‘I’ve been watching the show Doomsday Preppers on Netflix and these are some of the essential items survivalists recommend’.    

People preparing for disaster shared photos of their supplies of essential – and some less essential – food items they have gathered as the UK faces the prospect of a crisis. 

Twitter user Jonathan Phillips posted a photo of flour, beans and soup with the caption: ‘Renaming our Brexit cupboard to Coronavirus cupboard is easier than attempting to eat through it’.

People had built up stashes of food and supplies amid jangling Brexit nerves last year when there were claims supermarkets could run bare if ferries and lorries bringing produce from the continent were interrupted.

New fears of coronavirus hitting food supplies have got people hoarding again. 

In the UK there are now 85 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus, out of a total of 16,659 tests

In the UK there are now 85 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus, out of a total of 16,659 tests

The Amazon Fresh grocery website's suggested best sellers are nearly all linked to stockpiling

The Amazon Fresh grocery website’s suggested best sellers are nearly all linked to stockpiling

Kirsty Mildrew spent £40 on small bottles of anti-bacterial hand gel in Aldi and Lidl and admitted: 'I was like a mad woman stock pilling - I’m keeping it all for myself and my family'

Kirsty Mildrew spent £40 on small bottles of anti-bacterial hand gel in Aldi and Lidl and admitted: ‘I was like a mad woman stock pilling – I’m keeping it all for myself and my family’

Shelves in this London Tesco is empty of pasta, pasta sauces, rice and other staples but crisps and chocolate oranges appear to have been left

Shelves in this London Tesco is empty of pasta, pasta sauces, rice and other staples but crisps and chocolate oranges appear to have been left

This London Sainsbury's is running out of germ-busting disinfectant, bleach and anti-bacterial wipes

This London Sainsbury’s is running out of germ-busting disinfectant, bleach and anti-bacterial wipes 

Sainsbury’s claim the display has been there for a year and a spokesman denied it was deliberate – but Mr Woolnough said: ‘We haven’t noticed it in the past, but have only been buying in bulk over the last few weeks. The items in the area seem very specific to those that are recommended in these situations. Perhaps they have adapted the area to include such items’.

The shelves of British supermarkets are emptying at pace as coronavirus stockpiling spiralled out of control amid warnings of ‘food riots’ if the crisis worsens – despite warnings from the Government not to panic buy.

Shortages previously limited to anti-bacterial hand gel and hand soap have spread to cupboard items such as rice, pasta, couscous, Pot Noodles, bottled water, toilet roll and pet food – as well as chilled items including milk, butter and yoghurt.

Pharmacy shelves are also emptying of paracetamol, ibuprofen and immune-system boosting tablets such as Berocca as people prepare to fight off the flu-like illness that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide.

Facebook and Twitter is packed with photographs of empty shelves from major supermarkets across the UK where shoppers appear to have thrown empty boxes into the aisles in the mad scramble for items.

MailOnline readers have also shared pictures of their well-stocked larders as people prepare for weeks in isolation.

One reader said: ‘I have been trying for THREE days to buy pasta but I cannot see any as most shops have run out of pasta and pasta sauce’.

The scramble for food has also revealed what Britons do not consider essentials despite a China-style shutdown of communities predicted – including some flavours of crisps and confectionary including Terry’s Chocolate Orange.

Londoner Jasia Warren tweeted: ‘Interesting to see what people are stockpiling in my local supermarket. Bare shelves for rice, pasta, handwash, tissues and loo roll. Also interesting to see what people are not stockpiling: polenta, crumpets and get well cards. Their loss is my gain. #stockpiling’.  

Water is also selling out in supermarkets including this Asda in the capital despite coronavirus posing little threat to the country's water supply

Water is also selling out in supermarkets including this Asda in the capital despite coronavirus posing little threat to the country’s water supply

Sales of oral painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen are up ten per cent in the past year

Sales of oral painkillers such as paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen are up ten per cent in the past year 

Milk also appears to be flying off themselves along with other dairy products such as cheese and yoghurts also selling well

Milk also appears to be flying off themselves along with other dairy products such as cheese and yoghurts also selling well

There has also been a spike in sales of effervescent drinks containing vitamin C including Berocca and Redoxen

There has also been a spike in sales of effervescent drinks containing vitamin C including Berocca and Redoxen

This MailOnline reader has shared pictures of her stockpiled goods that include pies, squash, beans, sauces, detergent, bottled water and pet food

This MailOnline reader has shared pictures of her stockpiled goods that include pies, squash, beans, sauces, detergent, bottled water and pet food

This MailOnline reader has shared pictures of her stockpiled goods that include pies, squash, beans, sauces, detergent, bottled water and pet food

These two pocket-sized bottles of limited edition antibacterial hand gel are being sold on Amazon for £50 as people try to cash in

These two pocket-sized bottles of limited edition antibacterial hand gel are being sold on Amazon for £50 as people try to cash in

Haslemere shoppers empty the shelves in ‘heaving’ Sainsbury’s after four locals fall ill with coronavirus 

By Nick Fagge

Shoppers and supermarket staff have told how the Haslemere Coronavirus outbreak has caused panic buying.

Stocks of toilet roll, pasta and baked beans were completely sold out at the Sainsbury’s store in nearby Liphook, with new deliveries failing to make-up the short-fall.

Today shelves remained partially empty with shoppers buying extra provisions, just in case.

One shopper, who declined to be identified, told MailOnline: ‘There was panic buying here on Saturday.

‘The shelves were empty of rice, pasta, beans of all kinds, lentils and loo roll.

‘People were clearly worried about what had happened in Haslemere and wanted to make sure they would be ok if they had to stay in-doors.’

The 55-year-old mother-of-two, from Liphook, added she had been buying extra provisions today.

She said: ‘Today I saw the shelves were almost empty of loo roll so I have stocked up. I’ve also got some extra tins of soup in and some Lucozade in case we have to self-isolate.

‘Haslemere is only down the road and everyone around here knows people there.’

A Sainsbury’s worker described the weekend as ‘heaving’.

He said: ‘Saturday and Sunday were unbelievably busy – much busier than a normal weekend. We sold out of lots of essentials, like beans, toilet roll and pasta. It looked like people were trying to stock up just in case.’

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, it has emerged.

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’. 

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.

‘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.’

Toilet rolls are in short supply at Sainsbury's in Liphook - close to Haslemere, the current epicentre of the UK coronavirus outbreak

Toilet rolls are in short supply at Sainsbury’s in Liphook – close to Haslemere, the current epicentre of the UK coronavirus outbreak

Empty shelves in Boots in Weymouth where it is hard to get your hands on handsoap and anti-bacterial gel

Empty shelves in Boots in Weymouth where it is hard to get your hands on handsoap and anti-bacterial gel

Sainsbury's in East Dulwich has a severely depleted poultry section as  people stock up on food

Sainsbury’s in East Dulwich has a severely depleted poultry section as  people stock up on food

There is also a visible shortage of toilet roll as people also stock up on tissues

There is also a visible shortage of toilet roll as people also stock up on tissues 

MailOnline reader Navjot Singh said he has been trying to buy own brand bags of pasta and sauce for three days - but only the premium brands remain

MailOnline reader Navjot Singh said he has been trying to buy own brand bags of pasta and sauce for three days – but only the premium brands remain

These bare shelves in a Boots pharmacy as panic buying over the UK took hold

These bare shelves in a Boots pharmacy as panic buying over the UK took hold 

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores

Superdrug and Boots has sold out of hand gel and face masks at their stores with emergency orders on their way

Families are building up reserves to ensure their homes are ‘fit for a pandemic’ with some purchasing new chest freezers to fill with food and portable camp toilets to avoid sharing a loo if a relative tests positive for the killer virus.

Clean mobile twice a day 

Phone screens are ‘portable petri dishes’ and should be disinfected twice a day to stop coronavirus spreading.

Scientists claim the virus can live for up to 96 hours on flat surfaces, such as the screen of a smartphone and urged users to invest in alcohol wipes to clean their screens throughout the day.

Professor Mark Fielder, a microbiologist at Kingston University, backed the suggestion and said ‘don’t share your phone around’.

Last week Professor Peter Hall from the University of Waterloo in Canada called smartphones a ‘portable petri dish, accumulating bacteria and viruses’.

Research by Dscout in 2016 found that people tap their phone screen an average of 2,617 times a day.

A shortage of germ-killing antibacterial gel has seen a spurt in sales of surgical spirit on eBay and Amazon by people desperate to sanatise their hands, with Boots sold out today.

On social media one panicked Briton revealed that they have turned one small room in their house into an ‘isolation zone’ equipped with cooking equipment, bedding and food if they have to be in quarantine for a fortnight. 

Another Mumsnet user said: ‘I’ve cleaned and prepped the farm caravan so if needed it could be an isolation suite. Useful place to store surplus supplies, tinned food etc as well’.

Others are drawing up spreadsheets of the items they need to buy to last them weeks or months in self-isolation.

Professor Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia (UEA), said: ‘The prospect of whole towns being in lockdown and shops closed is heightening the fear and stockpiling may become rife’. 

Experts believe the stockpiling of medicine and food in family homes ‘may become rife’ as people grow increasingly concerned about coronavirus disrupting British life.

Professor Chakraborty, said: ‘One big opportunity for the supermarkets may be home delivery, where online grocery retailers could see a bonanza as consumers shy away from visiting stores and instead prefer to shop from the safety of their own homes.

‘There is no immediate need to stockpile or panic buy any goods, but people should be prepared to help out and shop for vulnerable relatives and friends who are elderly or have underlying conditions which places them at a greater risk of developing severe symptoms if the coronavirus spreads’.