Tesco joins Morrisons to limit sales of some items

Tesco has become the latest supermarket to put limits on the number of items shoppers can buy, following a similar move by rival Morrisons.

You now have a limit of three items per customer on flour, dry pasta, toilet paper, baby wipes, and some wet wipes.

Supermarkets are acting to prevent a repeat of the panic buying that caused the shortage in March.

Iceland’s managing director told the BBC that he is urging buyers to “calm down and carry on as normal.”

Richard Walker said his grocery chain was not considering limiting purchases on any line. He said there had been a small increase in interest in “usual suspect products” like toilet paper, but that “it was nothing like last time.”

Walker said that, in March and April, this had caused the elderly and vulnerable, as well as NHS workers, to grapple with empty shelves. He described panic buying as socially divisive, only an option for those who can afford it.

‘Good availability’

Tesco said it had “introduced bulk purchase limits on a small number of products.”

He said this was to “ensure that everyone can continue to buy what they need.”

“We have good availability, with plenty of stock for everyone, and we would encourage our customers to buy normally,” he said.

The supermarket has introduced additional limits for a small number of products online, such as canned rice and vegetables.

Morrisons introduced a limit of three items per customer on some ranges Thursday, including toilet paper rolls and disinfectant products.

He said the stock levels “were good” but wanted to “make sure they were available to everyone.”

No shortage

In March, UK supermarkets were forced to take action to prevent shoppers from panicking during the height of the pandemic.

Many introduced limits on the quantity of certain items that customers could buy, such as flour, pasta or toilet paper.

Improved measures introduced in recent weeks have not led to a build-up of stocks by customers, according to several supermarkets the BBC addressed earlier this week. Tesco joins Morrisons to limit sales of some items

Asda said it still had good availability in store and online, while Waitrose said it had “good levels” of stock and had also analyzed the items people bought at the beginning of the closing and planned ahead accordingly.

“We would like to assure customers that there is no need to worry about buying more than they need,” said a spokesperson.

The British Retail Consortium said the supply chains were good and has urged consumers to “shop as they normally would.”

BRC’s director of food and sustainability, Andrew Opie, said: “Supply chains are stronger than ever and we do not anticipate any problems in the availability of food or other goods under a future lockdown.

“However, we urge consumers to be considerate of others.”

Aldi boss Giles Hurley has written to customers saying, “There is no need to buy more than you would normally buy. I would like to assure you that our stores are fully stocked and I ask that you continue to shop with consideration.”