'Mad' wave of supermarket panic-shopping in NZ was over in three hours

Sunday, 23 January 2022

Panic-buying of toilet paper was evident at the Greenlane Countdown in Auckland, where staff said there had been a ‘mad’ three hours starting just before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement that the country would move to red setting in the traffic light system.

Supermarkets were hit with a “mad” three-hours of panic-buying starting just before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the country would move to red setting in the traffic light system at 11.59pm on Sunday.

But by 3pm, the only evidence at Auckland supermarkets were nearly-empty shelves where the toilet paper had been, and a shortage of paracetamol.

Staff at Auckland supermarkets said extra workers had been called in, including security staff, to prepare for an anticipated spike in demand from a minority of the population prone to panic-buying.

Both Countdown and Foodstuffs asked people not to stockpile, saying two years of pandemic had proven their supply chains were robust enough to cope, as long as people shopped normally.

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Panic-buying of paracetamol saw stocks run low at Countdown Three Kings in Auckland.

“Following the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier today, our stores are seeing a bit more foot traffic than usual,” said Kiri Hannifin, Countdown’s director of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability.

Extra security was put on at Pak n Save Royal Oak in Auckland. Trolleys were in extremely short supply as an unusual number of shoppers descended on the store after the announcement that the country would move to red on the traffic light system at 11.59pm on Sunday.

“We absolutely appreciate that Kiwis are keen to make sure they have what they need, especially if they have to isolate at home for several days.”

“Provided people are not stockpiling and only picking up a couple of extras in their shop, there will continue to be plenty available for everyone,” she said.

Emma Wooster, corporate affairs manager at Foodstuffs, which owns the New World and Pak ‘n Save chains, asked people to shop normally, mask-up, keep a one-metre physical distance from others while shopping, and to be kind to each other and to supermarket employees.

“Our teams have been actively preparing for Omicron, and we have been building our stock levels in anticipation of a move to red,” she said.

“We have enough for everyone as long as we all shop normally, there is no need to stock-up, even if preparing to self-isolate,” Wooster said.

Shoppers may notice some gaps on shelves, but she said Foodstuffs had proved its supply chain could cope with the pandemic.

But, she said: “Stores may place limits on certain items to ensure there is fair opportunity for everyone when they shop with us, this will be on a store-by-store basis, depending on customer demand. All specials, if they are available, will continue to stay in place. “

Staff at Countdown stores in Three Kings and Greenlane reported a “mad” three-hour spell of long queues at checkouts starting just before 11am as people got wind that the Prime Minister was making a special announcement.

But they said the stores coped well, and once the minority of panic-prone buyers had filled their baskets, foot traffic returned to normal.

Wooster said: “We encourage all customers to play their role and help us all keep safe while we’re in red by nominating one person in the household to shop, scanning in using the government app, or signing in at the door - and to nominate a friend or neighbour to shop on your behalf if you are feeling unwell.”

“As supermarkets are an essential service, customers don’t need to be vaccinated to shop in our stores,” she said.

Hannifin said: “We’ve been able to learn a lot from our previous experience in these situations and, while Omicron is likely to throw a few more challenges our way, we’re working closely with our suppliers and supply chain partners and doing everything we can to be prepared right across our supply chain - from our growers and food manufacturers through to our transport and logistics partners, distribution centres and store network - to ensure we can keep stock flowing onto shelves as best we can over the coming weeks.”