I visited a couple of supermarkets in Wokingham on thursday and today, both to do my usual shopping and to talk to the staff about the pressures they are experiencing.
The shops were busier than usual with car parks full. More people were opting for the very large trolleys and filling them. There has been as reported unusually high demand for toilet rolls, cleaning fluids and gels, pasta and rice and some tinned goods.
The supermarkets assure us there is plenty of food available, and they have so far done a good job replenishing stocks of most items even where under unusually high demand. In other countries that have entered more severe lock downs, people have still been allowed out to shop or have benefitted from on line deliveries. The aim of policy is to keep good supplies available.
It would be helpful not to buy unusual quantities of some items and to be conscious that there need be no shortages if we stick to more normal home stock levels. Even longer life food does deteriorate so it is best to buy when you have a need in the next few weeks for the product you are purchasing.
I thanked the staff I talked to for handling the rush. The shelf stackers have been particularly busy lately.