We sold out of bread at 3 o’clock

Shoppers in ‘panic’ mode as they buy up supplies

RETAILERS have been overwhelmed by customers trying to stock up on supplies ahead of Storm Emma.

One shopkeeper told the Irish Daily Mail that people went into ‘panic’ mode after the cold snap was forecast.

A spokeswoman for Tesco told the Irish Daily Mail that stores had seen a steady trade throughout yesterday. She said: ‘Typically in adverse weather conditions we see customers stock up on their core grocery essentials, bread, milk, bottled water, fuel, etc.

‘We’d encourage people to check in on elderly neighbours to ensure that they have sufficient essential items for the coming days.’

John Lavelle, duty manager in Tesco in Portlaoise, also said there had been an increase in the number of customers, remarking: ‘People seem to be panic-buying. I have been sold out of most of our bread since about 3 o’clock on Monday which is unheard of.

‘It was very busy in the morning, with maybe three times the number of average customers.’

Meanwhile in McConville’s SuperValu in Mountmellick, Co. Laois, bread flew out the doors shortly after lunchtime. ‘We had a lot of customers stocking up today on all the essentials like bread, milk and fuel,’ the manager said.

In SuperValu in Sutton, Dublin 13, it was a similar story. The manager told the Mail that bread, milk and firelogs had all being ‘flying out’ since early morning.

Christie Kelly, manager of Great Outdoors in Dublin said it was clear from sales yesterday that the public were paying attention to the weather warnings.

‘There was an influx of customers coming in looking for gloves, toboggans, and anything warm,’ she told the Irish Daily Mail. ‘Some people are determined to enjoy any expected snowfall, as sleds were selling rapidly in the store.’

Elsewhere, demand for briquettes was brisk in Woodies in Glasnevin, Dublin 11. ‘We have sold out and this is all because of the weather,’ said store manager Aiden Caffrey, who reported that sales had increased from Sunday onwards. ‘It’s been non stop,’ he said.

‘Stocking up on bread, milk, fuel’