Shopping update: Supermarkets reassure shoppers stocking up before weekend snow

Empty shelves at the bakery at Morrisons in Dereham on Thursday night. They were fully restocked the following morning.

Martin George Friday, January 18, 2013
3:45 PM

Supermarkets have moved to reassure customers who are stocking up on provisions ahead of poor weather forecast to continue throughout today and the weekend.

Customers had reported shortages of basics such as milk, bread and fruit and vegetables in some shops last night, and stores have been busy during the day.

A spokesman for Morrisons said that nationally bread and milk sales had increased by 10-20pc, with demand for ingredients like stewing beef used for traditional winter foods up by 22pc.

He said: “We are certainly not running short across our network. We have checked with our stores and supply chains this morning and we are not seeing any shortages.

“We are seeing a bulge in sales of certain products but it is not panic buying, but people stocking up ahead of what’s clearly going to be a couple of wintery days.”

A spokesman for Tesco said its supply chain was flexible enough to top up any stocks that were running low.

She said: “Our stores have been busy with customers preparing for the bad weather, as they stock up on essentials such as bread and milk.

“Generally, availability is good across our stores. Our colleagues are working hard to serve our customers quickly and efficiently, and regular deliveries are planned so that we can re-stock products for our customers.”

A spokesman for the Anglian Co-operative said no problems had been reported at its stores.

Earlier, Charlotte Doughty said: “I went to Waitrose Swaffham yesterday and it was like Christmas, so busy. Not a nice experience.”

Richard Willner said: “At 6pm last night there was no bread or milk in Mulbarton Co-op. They were getting a delivery but I’ve never seen that before in there. I guess some of it will be down to late deliveries because of road problems.”

Ali Best said Morrisons in Dereham had run out of bread, potatoes, fruit and veg by 5pm last night, although it still had plenty of wine left.

The shelves were fully restocked this morning, although some customers in the aisles were discussing whether to stock up on food ahead of the bad weather forecast for tonight and the weekend.

Supplies of carrots, potatoes and onions on shelves at the Co-op in the town appeared to be low this morning, although fruit and veg stalls at the morning market were fully stocked.

Have you been stocking up? Have you seen panic buying? Send your photos and stories to martin.george@archant.co.uk

12 comments

Thick sheeple.

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wes1975

Saturday, January 19, 2013
Perhaps this might be an opportunity for everyone to eat the perfectly good food that they would normally chuck out, or is that too simple

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Mylen1um

Saturday, January 19, 2013
Dont panic Mr mannering

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katelyn

Friday, January 18, 2013
So the shelves ran low, and then they were fully restocked almost immediately afterwards....no, still can't quite see what the story is here. Top marks for spreading needless fear and panic though!

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beeston bump

Friday, January 18, 2013
Can you imagine if there was just one loaf of bread left,I believe people would kill each other for it,

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Albert Cooper

Friday, January 18, 2013
Musto_Fan Well with the fuel crisis panic a lot of people went and filled up only because they had heard on the news that the pumps were running dry! Must be a great job being a reporter in news media - if you don't have any product to sell you can produce some by making a drama out of any little crisis and then report on the big crisis you have helped to create!

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Cyril the Canary

Friday, January 18, 2013
Musto_Fan Well with the fuel crisis panic a lot of people went and filled up only because they had heard on news that the pumps were running dry! Must be a great job being a reporter in news media - if you don't have any product to sell you can make some by making a drama out of any little crisis and then report on the big crisis you have helped to create!

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Cyril the Canary

Friday, January 18, 2013
Herd mentality nrn.

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nrg

Friday, January 18, 2013
@Cyril the Canary rather like telling drivers not to panic buy fuel!

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Musto_Fan

Friday, January 18, 2013
@micklynn - Without a doubt the BEST comment ever posted on these pages. Ever thought of a job in journalism? Of course not, too intelligent for rags like Archant

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becclesboy

Friday, January 18, 2013
I sometimes think that when some (most but not all) people go to the shops and one supermarket in particular they are given an immediate lobotomy as they pass through the doors. It seems to deprive them of all awareness of others and empowers them to stand in the most obstructive places to conduct inane conversations, oblivious to others trying to get out of the aisle. Then, when it comes to the check outs they queue in a daze, as if in a trance only awakening just after their goods have passed through to suddenly remember and fetch items they forgot to get in the first place because they were blocking the aisles conducting their inane conversations. When they have done that, they then have to remember where their purse or wallet is and then and here comes the difficult bit, remember their pin numbers for their cards. What conclusively proves my theory is that when faced with a queue of many at one particular check out they will join that queue rather than a shorter one elsewhere. Mind you heaven help the person that flaunts the longer queues and goes for a shorter one. That action seems to trigger off some sort of herd behaviour and muttering, targeted at the one who did go to the shorter queue and questioning that person's inability to remain one of the herd and think independently. All this behaviour is apparent year round but is most obvious in the time running up to Christmas or when the weather puts the fear into the minds of those attending these cathedrals of 'economy' and causes them to think that they cannot survive a couple of days of snow without clearing the shelves of all basic products. Just in case, you know.

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micklynn

Friday, January 18, 2013
Well if the shops weren't empty before they will be now! What a silly and irresponsible article to put up?

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Cyril the Canary

Friday, January 18, 2013