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As supermarket shelves across the country began to run out of toilet paper once again, Coles and Woolworths reintroduced shopping restrictions.
Having initially imposed limits on Victorian stores following the increase in the number of active coronavirus cases in the state, the two major supermarkets have since introduced additional restrictions across the country.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged buyers to resist panic buying. “Stop it, it’s ridiculous,” he said in response to supermarkets being forced to implement new measures.
Here’s everything you need to know about what you can and can’t buy in which supermarkets.
Coles: The restrictions
Coles reintroduced purchase limits starting June 26. Nationwide, all customers will be limited to one pack of toilet paper and one pack of paper napkins. This also applies to Coles Express stores and online purchases.
For stores in Victoria and on the NSW-Victoria border there is also a two-pack limit per customer for the following:
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Hand sanitizer
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Flour
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Eggs
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sugar
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Mince
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UHT milk
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Rice
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Pasta
Shopping hours
No changes are made to normal shopping hours, with stores open during normal hours. The “community hour”, when vulnerable people were allowed to enter the store early, has not been restored.
Online delivery
It is still possible to receive orders or order them via the click and collect service. The Coles online priority service, which gives vulnerable customers priority access to online delivery, is also still active.
Coles also offers a Coles Community Box, which is available to all customers to order and designed to be given to friends, neighbors, or vulnerable people who need access to groceries.
Each box costs $ 80 and is delivered in two packages by Australia Post. Contains food items for making healthy meals, such as pasta, rice, soup, juice, tea, and coffee, plus everyday essentials including soap, cleaning spray, and a four-pack of toilet paper.
Other measures
Coles continues to conduct additional cleanings in its stores, particularly on trolleys, baskets, checkouts, self-service areas and pin pads.
At the front of each store there are hand sanitizer and sanitizer wipes, which customers must use before entering the store.
They have Perspex screens at the checkout counters and between each self-service cashier.
“We ask customers to continue shopping as normal so that everyone can have access to the food and groceries they need,” says Coles.
Woolworths: the restrictions
On June 26, Woolworths set a two-pack limit for toilet paper and toilet paper rolls in all stores in the country.
“Unfortunately in the past 24 hours we have started to see increased demand for toilet rolls outside of Victoria,” said Claire Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Woolworths.
“We are taking preventative measures to anticipate any excessive shopping this weekend and help keep social distances in our stores.”
Woolworths has ordered 650,000 extra packs of toilet paper across the country, 30% more than normal stock.
In Victorian stores there is also a two-pack limit on:
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Pasta
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Flour
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sugar
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Mince
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Long-life milk
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Eggs
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Rice
Shopping hours
The shop opening hours remain the same as usual. There are currently no plans to restore “community time”, which allows vulnerable people to shop at a quieter time.
Online delivery
It’s still possible to get your grocery store delivery or get it via click and pickup.
In April, Woolworths opened tens of thousands of extra home delivery slots to keep people out of stores.
There was a 40% increase in online shopping demand in Melbourne last week.
Woolworths responded by opening thousands of other online delivery slots and putting more delivery trucks on the road in Victoria to add to the 200 extra vehicles they had previously employed.
Community Pick Up is also available in most Victorian stores, allowing other people to collect their groceries on your behalf. Priority Care deliveries are also still available – giving seniors, people with disabilities and people in isolation priority over delivery slots.
Other measures
In-store staff regularly clean baskets and carts, as well as monitor social distances around checkouts.
There are hand sanitation stations at the front of each store that customers must use before entering the store. All deliveries are contactless with groceries delivered in reusable bags.
“We have taken precautionary measures by applying certain product limits. Rest assured we have healthy stock levels, please only purchase what you need, ”says Woolworths.
ALDI
Aldi has not yet reintroduced any purchase restrictions. At the height of COVID-19 in March and April, they imposed the same limits on toilet paper and other items as Coles and Woolworths.
Their opening hours remain normal and they do not deliver online. They are installing clear screens in most stores and there are social distance indicators in the store.
AGE
In March and April, IGA had different purchase restrictions in different stores, depending on the size and location of the store. They haven’t restored the restrictions yet.
As they are franchise-owned stores, check your local store for details.
They are still imposing social distances in their stores and asking customers to pack their bags.
IGA is still running its priority store program where vulnerable customers can get essential food packages delivered to their door.
Harris Farm
Harris Farm currently has no new purchase restrictions.
The supermarket continues to encourage social distancing in the store and asks customers to use hand sanitizer in the front of the store before entering.
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