By Romy Stephens
Coles and Woolworths have reintroduced purchase limits on certain products, following a surge in demand after the announcement of further Covid-19 lockdowns.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on 7 July that metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire would enter another Stage 3 lockdown period from midnight 8 July.
Yarra Ranges and Cardinia were among impacted municipalities.
As a result of the lockdowns, Woolworths said in a statement it would reinstate limits of two items per customer on 27 product categories across Victorian stores.
“The move follows a surge in demand across Victoria overnight and will help ensure more customers have fair access to fresh food and essentials at Woolworths,” the statement said.
“All Woolworths supermarkets in Victoria will remain open throughout the next six weeks of stage three restrictions just as they did earlier this year.
“We have more than enough stock flowing from our distribution centres into stores to support all our customers’ food and grocery needs. We encourage our customers to continue shopping as they usually would.”
Coles also implemented limits on 20 product categories, but only for people living within the Melbourne metropolitan area and Mitchell Shire.
Coles chief executive Steven Cain said while it was disappointing to reinstate purchase limits, it was an important measure to help manage demand.
“Our thoughts are with the many Victorians who will now be required to isolate at home, and we will continue to work with the state government to provide whatever assistance they need,” he said.
“To help provide a safer shopping experience in our stores, we would ask that customers continue to treat our team members with respect, observe social distancing in stores, make use of the sanitising stations at the entrance, and plan their visit so they can be ‘speedy shoppers’.
“For customers who would prefer to shop online, we have contactless Click&Collect, while customers opting for home delivery will have their groceries delivered to their front door.”
