Coronavirus panic buying: What you need to know before your next supermarket trip

The spread of coronavirus has caused panic buying across the country, as people rush to stock up on goods amid fears they may soon be forced to self-isolate.

From toilet paper to rice, Aussies are raiding stores of the necessities, leaving some with limited supplies. To help combat this issue and protect the country’s most vulnerable, some supermarkets have introduced special shopping hours for seniors and those with a disability to gather goods, while others have introduced restrictions on certain items.

So, with little certainty as to how long this may continue, how do you make sure you’ve got everything you need and what rules do you need to follow on your next shopping trip?

Woolworths

Woolworths has been hit hard with an influx of shoppers over the past few weeks, bulk-buying everything from toilet paper to pasta, so there’s no doubt you’ve noticed the many empty shelves on your most recent visit. In response to this Woolworths has enforced some new rules and shopping hours to alleviate the problem and help everyone get the necessities they need.

Restrictions

Initially Woolworths supermarkets across the country put a limit on toilet paper, but since then, they’ve had to ramp things up with further restrictions.

Currently, the restrictions per shop include:

• Dry pasta – 2 pack
• Flour – 2 packs
• Tissues – 2 packs
• Paper towel, serviettes and wipes – 1 pack
• Toilet paper – 1 pack
• Hand sanitiser – 2 unit
• Bulk rice (2kg+) – 1 pack

Seniors hour

Woolworths has introduced a seniors-only shopping hour to help the elderly amid the panic buying of toilet paper and other goods across the country. From March 17 onwards, Australia’s older population and those with a disability have exclusive access to the supermarket between 7am and 8am.

Only those with a relevant Government issued concession card will be able to enter stores during this time, with stores then opened to general public from 8am. The revised opening hours are in place at this stage until Friday, March 20, with Woolworths to review opening arrangements at that point.

Store opening hours

To help staff stock necessary items Woolworths has announced revised opening hours during the week, with the majority of stores open from 8am to 8pm from Wednesday, until further notice. The only stores which are excluded from this rule include Town Hall, QV and Brisbane Airport.

Online delivery

If you’re thinking of shopping online to avoid the crowded supermarkets, you may have to think again. On Monday Woolworths announced it had “temporarily suspended” delivery services out of Victorian supermarkets.

The company has also “paused” its online pick-up service due to temporary shortages on a number of items and to allow teams to focus on serving customers in store.

Coles

Coles has faced similar dilemmas with people lining up outside the store to get their hands on a few rolls of toilet paper and jars of pasta sauce. Hence, the rules they have enforced are in line with their competitors.

Restrictions

There are very strict restrictions on certain items at Coles supermarkets, with more coming into play from Tuesday. This includes:

• Toilet paper – 1 pack
• Pasta – 2 packs
• Flour – 2 packs
• Dry rice – 2 packs
• Paper towels – 2 packs
• Tissues – 2 packs
• Hand sanitiser – 2 packs
• Mince meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken and turkey) – 2 packs
• Eggs – 2 packs
• Chilled pasta – 2 packs
• Frozen vegetables – 2 packs
• Frozen desserts – 2 packs

Community hour

Following Woolworths’ lead, Coles has also introduced a dedicated hour for the elderly and disadvantaged to purchase goods. From Wednesday onwards, Community Hour will take place in all Coles supermarkets across the country from 7am to 8am.

To make use of this exclusive shopping hour you must hold a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Companion Card or Health Care Card. From 8am onwards the store is open to the general public.

Store opening hours

All Coles supermarkets will close no later than 8pm each night to give team members the time and space to clean stores and replenish the shelves for customers the next day.

Online deliveries

Coles has suspended online deliveries for some of its customers, with only those genuinely in need, especially the most vulnerable and isolated, able to access this service. The supermarket has also temporarily paused click and collect orders and its UberEats delivery service.

Aldi

Aldi Australia is yet to follow in the lead of competing supermarkets and adopt a seniors-only shopping hour, or change its trading hours, however, the supermarket has enforced other rules during the coronavirus outbreak.

Restrictions

From Tuesday onwards Aldi Australia has put in place restrictions on a number of products to give everyone the chance to purchase necessities. This includes:

• Toilet paper – 1 pack
• Dry pasta – 2 packs
• Flour – 2 packs
• Dry rice – 2 packs
• Paper towels – 2 packs
• Tissues – 2 packs
• Hand sanitiser – 2 packs

IGA

IGA stores are independently owned, so the supermarkets have not enforced nationwide rules to assist with panic buying. Instead, each store is given the opportunity to enforce their own rules on restrictions and trading hours.

Seniors hour

One IGA store in Victoria has enforced a similar rule to the major supermarket chains to help Australia’s most at risk during this difficult time. The store in Altona is opening for one hour before trading for seniors card and disability card holders. From Tuesday until April 7, the one store will open exclusively from 6am to 7am for these people to purchase necessary goods.

While these changed trading hours are currently only enforced in the one Victorian town, IGA CEO Fred Harrison said it’s something they’ll certainly consider across the rest of the country.

“That’s not a policy across the IGA network at the minute. [But] it’s certainly one retailer that’s gone out to make that decision,” he said on the Today show on Monday morning. “So we’re certainly going to be meeting this morning talking to IGA headquarters to say is this something we should roll out across the IGA network?”