Sweetcorn, avocado, bananas the most purchased foods on the first day of red traffic light setting
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Sweetcorn, avocado and bananas were the most popular food items purchased on the first day the country was at the red traffic light setting, supermarket chain Foodstuffs says.
“New Zealanders’ habits from the first day in the red setting have shown the majority of shoppers are continuing to purchase everyday grocery items on their list,” Emma Wooster, corporate affairs manager, Foodstuffs New Zealand said.
“These items are what we would expect to see on a usual Monday in our stores.”
Shoppers also picked up their usual pantry staples such as tinned goods, rice and pasta, as well as everyday household items like toilet paper and painkillers.
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“We continue to encourage everyone to only buy what they need for their household,” Wooster said.
Foodstuffs operates Pak’n Save and New World supermarkets.
Wooster said despite the ongoing effects of Covid-19 on the supply chain, Foodstuffs had enough essentials in stock for everyone, as long as people continue to shop normally and did not stockpile.
“The global supply chain has been lumpy for some time, and we expect this to continue throughout 2022, so if there’s a gap on the shelf on occasion, and it’s an imported product, it’s likely held up and will be back in stock soon.”
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 on Sunday.
Some Auckland supermarkets had limited toilet paper, and a shortage of paracetamol, but they were the only noticeable items missing.
Top 20 products for New World, Pak ’n Save and Four Square North Island stores for January 24:
Sweetcorn
Avocado
Bananas
Value milk standard 2L
Broccoli
Red capsicum
Cucumber
Pams butter 500g
Chicken breast skinless
Watermelon
Value tomatoes chopped in juice 400g
Still water 1.5L
Carrots
Pams blueberries
Value milk lite 2L
Beef prime mince
Chicken drumsticks
Brown onions
Value milk standard 3L
Value white toast 600g