Tesco, Asda and Waitrose have all started rationing sales of certain items, such as toilet paper and antibacterial hand gel, in store or online.
Tesco led the way on rationing amid coronavirus panic-buying, imposing a limit of five items per person on purchases of antibacterial products, dried pasta, long-life milk, children’s medicines, water and tinned vegetables at its stores and online from Saturday.
Asda began restricting sales of some types of antibacterial hand gel to two bottles per person online and in store yesterday, while Waitrose has begun rationing certain antibacterial soaps and wipes online.
Morrisons is limiting purchases of children’s medicine and handwash online, although the grocer told Sky News that this limitation is not related to the coronavirus.
As of yet, Sainsbury’s has not limited purchases on any of its ranges.
The introduction of rationing on essential items by major grocers comes as the government prepares to speak to supermarket chiefs about their response to coronavirus and how to deliver products to people who are self-isolating.
Health secretary Matt Hancock claimed on BBC Question Time last week that the government was already working with supermarkets on how to deliver products to those who were self-isolating – a claim that was denied by several senior grocery executives.
Supermarket chains and the British Retail Consortium are expected to meet this afternoon with Defra, the government department that has been working with retailers.
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