A former Sainsbury's chief executive has warned that supermarkets face a greater challenge than coronavirus-related panic buying
Mr King said the supermarket sector had been"coping quite admirably" with the challenges of panic buying, as the number of confirmed cases in the UK approaches 400, with six people having died from the disease.
"There isn't much back-up stock in any supermarket in the country, but there is plenty of back-up stock in the system - it just takes time for that to refill. I think, to coin a phrase, supermarkets are still in 'don't panic' mode. "It's pretty hard to do the unthinking - clear a shelf of hand sanitiser when you only really need two or three yourself and share it around."The reality is most supermarkets have pretty well tried and tested fair use purchase policies. They have for years and years for promotions, for example, and those have been tried and tested."
He said:"I'd suggest people who are self-isolating might need to ask a nice neighbour or relative to do some shopping for them.
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