Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Irish consumers assured there is 'no strain on food supply chain' amid bulk buying at supermarkets

One in four people have started stockpiling food.

SUPERMARKETS ACROSS THE country have seen certain shelves completely emptied over the last week, as consumers stock up on tinned goods, hand soap and disinfectant products following confirmation of coronavirus cases in Ireland.

According to research by iReach, one in four people in Ireland have begun stockpiling food with a further 7% stocking up on fuel.

Sales of hand wash products (including hand sanitisers) alone were up 15% in February, Kantar said today.

Charlotte Scott, consumer insight director at Kantar said experts are expecting to see more of an impact towards the end of February and into March as an increased awareness of the virus will lead to an uplift in the sale of healthcare products.

“This coupled with the impact of Storm Jorge in late February may well lead to growing sales of goods typically associated with stockpiling like pasta and tinned or frozen food,” she said.

This increased activity should not be a cause for anxiety, however, according to Aidan Flynn, general manager of Freight Transport Association Ireland, who said there is no problem with the food supply chain.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Flynn said there are no barriers to transporting the kinds of products like tinned goods, pasta and hand soap that people are bulk buying and while supermarkets may sell-out of some products in a day, they will be able to very quickly restock their shelves.

“There is no issue overall in relation to the availability of products other than those that have been well documented like hand sanitiser or face masks.

The supply chain is not experiencing any issues when it comes to food products or clothes and we all have an obligation not to panic-buy because it does have implications for everybody else. There is, overall, no run on demand on certain things and there’s no strain on the supply chain at the moment that is exasperated by this situation.
But it’s important that the public knows there is no real reason at the minute to be doing this – nothing is running out from a retail perspective.

Although Flynn said the bulk buying of food is not a significant concern, he is worried about the workers in the freight transport business who are bringing this food into and around the country.

“From our perspective we’re working to ensure people are kept updated and we’re very much guided by government agencies, checking with the Department of Foreign Affairs in relation to travel advice, for example. 

“We’re focused on disseminating that advice to members and similar to Brexit, we’re talking to them about contingency plans and understanding the issues faced by drivers – when people talk about a shortage of hand sanitisers and not being able to get it, that impacts on them. 

“The advice from the HSE is that washing your hands with soap and water is just as good, but unfortunately mobile workers don’t have access to that. We’re looking to the government to provide solutions for this cohort of people.”

He said it is also important now that companies in this industry consider their duty of care when it comes to their workers.

“It will be key now to have implementation and delivery of facilities for personal hygiene,” he said. 

“Everybody needs to play their part in this. For the workers too, if they’re feeling unwell they should be following government advice, hold your hand up and tell your employer about it rather than holding back. 

We all have a personal responsibility to be aware of the type of situation we’re in. 

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
60 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim Oxley
    Favourite Tim Oxley
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:10 AM

    People are bulk buying because they don’t trust the government with there drip feed information

    381
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mulligan
    Favourite John Mulligan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:03 AM

    @Tim Oxley: where?

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:48 AM

    @Tim Oxley: that is totally correct, the less these shysters tell us the more distrust they cause

    57
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rosa Lopez
    Favourite Rosa Lopez
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:22 AM

    @Tim Oxley: people are bulk buying because they are selfish, stop blaming the goverment for everything. Hands sanitizers and medical masks are out of stock everywhere, but you have no problem to get them in advert and marketplace for triple+ the price. That’s the idiotic and selfish mentality of people, not goverment. If they care for the vulnerable who can buy in bulks for a number of reson there wouldn’t be any problem with stock from the goverment and suppliers side.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JedBartlett
    Favourite JedBartlett
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:37 AM

    I’d imagine the people who are stockpiling are the same people who believe everything they read on Facebook. There is absolutely no need for such panic buying.

    286
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garreth mc mahon
    Favourite Garreth mc mahon
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:04 AM

    I keep hearing reports of bulk buying. But haven’t seen it in quite a few shops I’ve been in over the past week

    159
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Barry
    Favourite Shane Barry
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:25 AM

    @Garreth mc mahon: In Fermoy all the Rice and soap is gone, iv had to have bread with my curries.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Grainnewhale
    Favourite Grainnewhale
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:42 AM

    @Shane Barry: Naan Bread – very nice!

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute nicknack
    Favourite nicknack
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:21 AM

    A woman in front of me in the supermarket had 220 euro worth of canned food going through the scanner.i was going to ask her can I use her garden bunker!!

    170
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Jones
    Favourite John Jones
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:40 AM

    @nicknack: maybe she’s a single woman with a load of cats :)

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sea Graham
    Favourite Sea Graham
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:10 AM

    What happens when drivers start to come down with it? The stand in government doing spinnies, singing la la la wishing it will go away on it’s own instead of being proactive from the get go hasn’t helped in any way.

    80
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colette Kearns
    Favourite Colette Kearns
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:20 AM

    @Sea Graham: That’s what happens when you have a journalist in charge of a pandemic!

    96
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fozz
    Favourite Fozz
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:23 AM

    @Sea Graham: drivers will likely not be elderly, sick or immuno-suppressed, so most won’t have any serious symptoms even if they do get this virus.
    They can still do their jobs, for the most part.
    The risk they pose would be to those they come in contact with, the same as everyone else.

    87
    See 17 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:38 AM

    @Fozz: Except that’s not reality. The “mild symptoms for some” is a myth. The WHO have said that they have no data that supports this theory.

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sue
    Favourite sue
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:47 AM

    @Paraic: maybe read the interview of that guy who actually had it in Ireland. Only presented with a little fever, no other symptoms, is still in hospital but feeling great.

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:55 AM

    @sue: Maybe understand that this disease takes weeks to develop.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony McGovern
    Favourite Anthony McGovern
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:58 AM

    @Paraic: “For most people, COVID-19 infection
    will cause mild illness however, it can make some people very ill” – taken from Who’s daily situation reports
    https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

    This is also the advise given by most medical professionals. So Stop spreading usless facebook rumors. That’s how mass panic buying starts and that’s how we all run out of loo roll.

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:16 AM

    @Anthony McGovern: The WHO definition of “Mild” can include having pneumonia but not being on a ventilator. It doesn’t mean what you think it does.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sea Graham
    Favourite Sea Graham
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:23 AM

    @Fozz: a lot of the long haul drivers lead a sedentary lifestyle. They spend most of their time sitting, sleeping in the cab, eating from roadside cafes. You don’t see a lot of salads on the plates on Mother Hubbard’s.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:24 AM

    @Paraic: stop with the lies and misinformation. You have been doing it for over a month now.
    I don’t know what sick pleasure you get from it but just stop.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:32 AM

    @Anthony McGovern: https://twitter.com/AbraarKaran/status/1236680331706675200?s=20
    Abraar Karan is a doctor from the Harvard Medical School. The point is, if you have a “mild case” you won’t be driving a truck for a couple of weeks.

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:35 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: How many trucks of beef are we driving to Italy today Feardorcha? Stop deluding yourself.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Favourite Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:47 AM

    @Paraic: it’s clear you just want the schools to close so you don’t have to sit the Junior Cert.
    Your scaremongering has been called out so many times it’s not funny anymore
    Stop spreading lies and misinformation.

    59
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Thomas
    Favourite Dave Thomas
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:00 AM

    @Colette Kearns: if only we had a doctor in charge!

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Corrigan
    Favourite David Corrigan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:12 AM

    @Paraic: It’s easy enough to make your own pasta though Paraic.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic
    Favourite Paraic
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:14 AM

    @David Corrigan: Exactly. That’s why there’s been a run on flour.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:51 AM

    @Anthony McGovern: the more the government inform people the less panic will be caused. They are so thick they can’t see this.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Hughes
    Favourite Peter Hughes
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 12:59 PM

    @Paraic: Italy is lockdown because they are afraid of overloading the hospitals because there is no vaccine.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O'Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O'Keeffe
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:39 PM

    @Paraic: how does a highly contagious virus affect only 21 people on a cruise ship with 3,500 on board?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan
    Favourite Aidan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Colette Kearns: not a journalist. He never graduated.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jun Stone
    Favourite Jun Stone
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:24 AM

    I have seen this in action in my local supermarket, utterly ridiculous and spreading panic, when what we need is a calm and measured approach to containing this virus.

    95
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Conran
    Favourite Gavin Conran
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:49 AM

    @Jun Stone: True, but with no information as to what measures will be put in place supply wise should a town or village suddenly find itself under quarantine I cant really blame people for playing it safe.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ed
    Favourite Ed
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:28 AM

    Where are people bulk buying? Shelves are stocked as normal in any supermarket I’ve been to.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shakka1244
    Favourite Shakka1244
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:40 AM

    I’m alright Jack. I’ve got my stuff. Me Me Me and feck everyone else.

    That’s the spirit.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gus Sheridan
    Favourite Gus Sheridan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:55 AM

    @Shakka1244: that’s because people do not trust anything Leo’s Lousers tell us. Or more to the point don’t tell us.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eddie horgan
    Favourite eddie horgan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 11:53 AM

    @Gus Sheridan: Give it a rest Gus

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute john mounsey
    Favourite john mounsey
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:49 AM

    If we stockpile Irish produce, eg butter, bread into the freezer, meat, porridge etc, it might actually help our economy.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gavin Conran
    Favourite Gavin Conran
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 7:51 AM

    @john mounsey: Shop shelves are going bare in places. People wont be picky as to the country of origin for goods if it’s all that available to them on the day

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eddie horgan
    Favourite eddie horgan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 2:29 PM

    @Gavin Conran: Again, where?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ken Hickey
    Favourite Ken Hickey
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:37 AM

    People are bulk buying because like everything else in this country they’re only worried about themselves. Keep it up and we’ll end up with rationing.

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Johannes Baader
    Favourite Johannes Baader
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:02 AM

    Like a flock of sheep

    47
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jon
    Favourite Jon
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:52 AM

    Why toilet paper?

    I was in Dunnes yesterday and the shelves were empty of toilet paper.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Garvan Gallagher
    Favourite Garvan Gallagher
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:08 AM

    @Jon: cause people saw the news in Australia, and people are idiots

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jon
    Favourite Jon
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:15 AM

    @Garvan Gallagher: It is certainly a strange one Garvan. I asked the girl working in that section yesterday and was told that they cannot keep it in stock for the last few days.

    14
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Demo
    Favourite George Demo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:28 AM

    @Garvan Gallagher: If one person sneezes 20 people shit themselves

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Demo
    Favourite George Demo
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:31 AM

    @Jon: if one person sneezes in public, 20 people shit themselves

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Monty Donotno
    Favourite Monty Donotno
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:27 AM

    @Jon: will have to install a bidet shower!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Van-Standen
    Favourite David Van-Standen
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 1:14 PM

    @George Demo: Bravo!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Heery
    Favourite Gerard Heery
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 8:59 AM

    Better get in a few slabs of beer and toilet roll few bars of soap ,that’s that sorted

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jon
    Favourite Jon
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:18 AM

    @Gerard Heery: Nothing worse than sitting on the bowl and not having a square to spare.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gwen Langford
    Favourite Gwen Langford
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:42 AM

    @Gerard Heery: Don’t forget the bread

    7
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Monty Donotno
    Favourite Monty Donotno
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:29 AM

    @Gwen Langford: sure every freezer is already full since the last storm.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fiona Reidy
    Favourite Fiona Reidy
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 9:48 AM

    It makes sense to be prepared and have some provisions in case you have to self isolate over the coming weeks. Even if you have mild symptoms, you won’t be able to go out to the shops for fear of infecting other more vulnerable people. I don’t understand the toilet paper thing though!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Monty Donotno
    Favourite Monty Donotno
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:31 AM

    @Fiona Reidy: makes more sense to have a big shop than the equivalent of running to supermarket on multiple occasions.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Moore
    Favourite Brian Moore
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:18 AM

    Tesco stores are seeing near Christmas period levels of spending every single day. I’m not sure the supply chain is ready for that if it continues.
    At present Irish people have little faith in this caretaker government.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Irish Snowden
    Favourite Irish Snowden
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 10:19 AM

    If anything this article is telling people to start panic buying

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
    Favourite Paul Jude Redmond
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 11:01 AM

    If the Government says there’s no problem, that’s a sure indication we should panic buy white bread and lemsips

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eddie horgan
    Favourite eddie horgan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 11:54 AM

    @Paul Jude Redmond: That’s a really helpful statement

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Jude Redmond
    Favourite Paul Jude Redmond
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 5:25 PM

    @eddie horgan: it’s called sarcasm. Look it up…

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute eddie horgan
    Favourite eddie horgan
    Report
    Mar 10th 2020, 11:59 AM

    If the suppliers won’t limit bulk buying then the minister needs to issue a restriction order on certain products and do so while stocks are still there.

    7
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds