Mad rush for cleaning products, alcohol and food in local stores
Hand santiser, Dettol products, toilet paper and beer were among the products flying off the shelves at supermarkets across the district on Thursday and Friday as restrictions announced by the Government registered with people.
Car parks at supermarkets in New Ross were packed to capacity, with some people illegal parking. Inside long queues formed, as shoppers desperately tried to get in demand products, including mlik and bread.
Deliveries are being faciliattaed even in rural supermarkets.
At Molloy’s Supervalu a woman bought 240 rolls of toilet paper. Whole trays of giant Cadbury’s chocolate bars were also snapped up.
Although busier than usual, supermarkets across the district were not packed out the doors on Thursday afternoon, following the announcement that all schools and creches were closing the following day for a fortnight.
Sean Caulfield of Caulfield’s Centra, Campile said: ‘We had people stocking up on meat, no bread and milk. It is almost like there is snow outside and people were buying up because they thought they weren’t going to be able to get stuff for a few days. Customers feel they are being locked into their houses and they can’t get out. It’s a natural reaction for people.’
The fact that the announcement came out today that the schools were going to close that it really sunk in. People are a little bit anxious because anybody working is wonderfing who is going to mind the kids because creches are also closed. People are panicking, especially when they have young children. Older people are taking it a bit more lighly, maybe it’s life experience. A spanner has been thrown in te works now so we are not able to do what we normally do and what we’d like.
He foresees needing to get in extra staff to meet demand.
‘The problem is nobody knows how long is this going to last; where it is going to end. We have never seen anything like this before; it’s the unknown. If we knew what was comnig we’d know how to plan for it or deal with it.
We will stay open throughut unless soembody gets sick. We will stay open and keep providing the service to our customers and have the stock speople want but it’s going to be difficulty as there will be big demand for the products from bakeries. A lot of companies wouldn;t be set up for what’s required.’Antiabacterial products like antibacterial wipes are flying out the door.’
He had the Milton and Dettol spray on Thursday but didn’t think stocks would last long.
We are doing our best. We are getting stocks in. There will be problems when we run out of stock. People will get agitated. Patience is needed. There is no point in people buying ten of this or ten of that. Everyone needs to calm down and leave products for other people.
In other supermarkets on Thursday sales that afternoon exceeded what they’d normally sell in a week in certain products, including at the meat couters. Social media was also fuelling the panic.
Shoppers have been reassured their products will still be supplied, although delivers are sporadic at some supermarkets.
One supermarket owner said: ‘It’s an extraordinary event. Nobody has ever seen this. The snow a couple of years ago was a big one as well. It’s an hour by hour basis at the minute. It’s uncharted waters for everybody. It’s the same for everybody and there’s comfort in that as we’re all in the same boat. The Irish have a great way about us of always pulling together when things are tough so there’s no doubt we’ll do it again.’