UK shoppers rush to stockpile toilet paper and bottled water after government issues emergency preparedness warning
Sales of toilet rolls and bottled water have increased significantly across the UK after the government launched its “Be Ready” resilience campaign. The initiative encourages citizens to keep a 72-hour supply of essentials at home. The objective is to prepare for potential emergencies such as natural disasters or cyberattacks.
Following the campaign announcement, retailers reported increased demand for everyday essentials and emergency supplies, causing sales of everyday and emergency items to soar across online and physical retail stores. For instance, eco-friendly brand Cheeky Panda saw a 43% increase in sales compared with the same period last year. Meanwhile, Serious Tissues reported a 36% increase, while Bumboo saw a 29% rise.
Shoppers at bulk retailers, including Costco in Manchester, were seen filling trolleys with cases of bottled water and paper towels. Online supermarket Ocado reported that approximately 40 varieties of tinned soup from Heinz, Baxters and M&S, along with several bottled water products, were out of stock.
Retailers such as Toolstation, Argos and B&M reported sharp increases in emergency hardware sales. Toolstation reported increases of up to 172% in sales of generators and torches. Amazon’s bestseller lists are currently dominated by 25-litre jerry cans, water purification tablets, head torches, and hand warmers.
In response to concerns about stock shortages, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) issued a statement reassuring the public that overall food availability remains strong. Moreover, it noted that physical stores maintain healthy stock levels. Julia Chen, co-founder of Cheeky Panda, warned consumers against hoarding months’ worth of products. To discourage pandemic-style hoarding, Chen emphasized that while a little extra paper is good planning, extreme panic buying is entirely unnecessary.
[Source]
