Sales of tinned goods, bottled water and torches have risen sharply after the government advised households to prepare for shortages caused by cyber attacks and extreme weather.
Several brands of soup, including Heinz and Baxters, and bottled water, including Volvic and Highland Spring, were out of stock on Ocado on Monday as a result.
Retailers report surge in demand
An Ocado spokesperson told The Times: “We’ve seen an increase in demand for some products over the weekend and are working with our supply-chain partners to increase availability as soon as possible.”
Supermarket chain Iceland reported that sales of tinned food had increased by more than 40% over the weekend, with a further spike in bottled water sales. A spokesperson for the chain added: “Our supplies of these products remain healthy.”
Meanwhile, Maplin said that radio sales increased by 92%, torches by 284% and power banks by 106% compared to the same time last month.
Government advice and response
Last week, defence secretary Wes Streeting urged people to stock up on non-perishables and water, an FM radio and blankets amid concerns over “hostile state actors”.
In response to the increase in sales, Mr 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."
The government had advised putting together an emergency kit containing provisions to last three days. The checklist includes enough bottled water for three days, non-perishable food that doesn’t need cooking, hand sanitiser and wet wipes, a portable power bank, and a first aid kit.
Preparedness levels and industry readiness
Recent research suggested that only 13% of Brits felt they were prepared for such an emergency. Ministers said that no single immediate threat triggered the initiative, but it comes following recent threats from Russia and a summer of punishing heatwaves, wildfires, and droughts.
Ed Woodall, chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the industry body, said: “In the event of increased demand, like we saw during the summer heatwaves, our sector is well prepared and well stocked to keep products available for customers.”
