No shortages locally as smaller retailers have ample stocks


Queue outside of Lidl in Acton prior to opening

Acton supermarkets including Morrisons and the new Lidl are currently seeing crowds of people waiting outside their door in advance of opening.

They are then quickly stripping the shelves of certain products such as toilet roll, past and fresh meat as fears grow of possible shortages due to the coronavirus crisis.

One of the staff at Acton Lidl said that the store is extremely busy for about three hours after opening with queues stretching across the store but then the number of customers returns to normal.

Susan Ahmadi, decided not to enter the store in the Oaks Shopping Centre this morning after seeing the crowds. She said, “I only came to get some fresh fruit and veg and some milk but I know I can get them in other shops in the area. I saw lots of people with face masks which seems ridiculous given that they are going into a crowded space and putting themselves at a high risk. ”

Nearby Hakikat Food Centre had ample stocks of fresh veg as well as staples such as rice.

When we spoke to the owner of another smaller grocery store nearby he said, “I can always get the products that sell out at the cash and carry next day including things like toilet roll so there is no shortage as far as I can see. There is a counter between me and the customer so even people self-isolating are safe in shops like this. Now is the time to support independent local businesses”

Queues have also been forming outside Savers on Acton High Street with people anxious to stock up on medicines. Sales of paracetamol are already restricted for safety reasons so it is not possible to buy them in bulk. A local pharmacist told us she believed concerns about a shortage were overblown.

Queues outside Savers on Acton High Street

Late night shopping to avoid the crowds is possible in the ASDA at Park Royal and Morrisons which is open until 10pm. When we visited last night (Wednesday 18 March) there were certain products that were sold out but plenty of alternatives available.

The latest information is that the government is suggesting a total lockdown of London is not going to happen with BBC reporter Laura Kuenssberg saying that she has been told by number 10 that there is ‘zero prospect’ of this occurring at the moment.

Even if it did, based on the controls issued by other countries, it would still be possible to go out to buy food and deliveries to supermarkets would continue as normal so it is not necessary to hoard.

March 19, 2020