Shoppers panic buy toilet roll after government call to stockpile

Shoppers have been taking part in “pandemic-style” panic buying as they stock up on toilet roll following the government’s calls for the public to be prepared for emergencies.

UK households have been advised to take simple steps in case everyday services are disrupted, like keeping a three-day supply of cash, bottled water and tinned food at home.

Sales of tinned food, wind-up radios and torches all spiked as people rushed to stock up on essentials.

But it’s not just beans, the sale of toilet paper has also soared.

Cheeky Panda, which sells bamboo toilet paper, said it's seen a 43 per cent increase in sales compared to this time last year.

Julie Chen, the company's co-founder, acknowledged that although it’s useful to have a “little extra” there is no need to stock up on months’ worth. She also warned against a return of “pandemic-style” panic buying which can leave shelves empty, The Telegraph reported.

Over the past five days, Serious Tissues said it had seen a 36 per cent rise in sales and also told customers not to stock up on hundreds of rolls at once.

Toilet paper also made up three of the top 20 popular grocery products on Amazon’s bestsellers page on Tuesday.

Discount retailer B&M saw a 19 per cent increase in toilet paper sales since the guidance was issued, along with a rise in sales of power banks and torches.

It comes after several brands of soup and bottled water were out of stock on Ocado, the online grocer. Volvic, Highland Spring and Brecon Carreg were all listed as unavailable, as were Heinz and Baxters soup ranges.

Maplin also said the sale of radios increased by 92 per cent, torches by 284 per cent and power banks by 106 per cent, since the same time last month.

In response to the increase in retail sales of certain items, the defence secretary, Wes Streeting told BBC Newsnight: "It's encouraging that people are taking practical steps to be ready.

“Having a few everyday essentials at home, from tinned food to torches, helps households prepare for disruption, whether that's flooding, power cuts or burst pipes. We can all play our part in making Britain more resilient."

What is included in the ‘Be Ready’ checklist?

The government says people should put together an emergency kit that includes key provisions you and your household would need during a short-term incident lasting three days, such as a power failure or a disruption to your water supply.

The checklist includes:

• Bottled water - enough bottled water for three days. Each person needs about 3 litres for drinking a day in addition to water needed for cooking and washing.
• Non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, such as ready-to-eat tinned meat, fruit or vegetables (and a tin opener). As with water, how much you need will vary based on your own circumstances. Don’t forget food for pets.
• Hand sanitiser and wet wipes for hygiene purposes when the water is off.
• Light and warmth – pack a torch and spare batteries as well as blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
• A portable power bank for charging your mobile phone.
• A battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
• A first aid kit (or some first aid items) including items such as waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash solution, sterile dressings and gloves, medical tape for dressings, and tweezers.
• Baby supplies such as nappies and baby formula – ready made or ‘ready-to-feed’ formula is best as you may not be able to boil water or sterilise bottles.
• Money and documents - Keep cash in a mix of notes, coins and cards. Copies of IDs and documents. Also write down any important phone numbers and information such as regular medication and doses.