Black Country supermarkets struggling to cope with panic shopping
Supermarket staff have been working “round the clock” to cater for high demand as customers flock to local shops in their hundreds to stockpile goods.
People have been spotted queuing outside high street stores and supermarkets but traders are feeling the strain.
S&D Supermarket, in Dudley Road, Wolverhampton opened on Thursday morning but had to close at 9.30am after “200 people came through the doors and cleared the shelves”, director Sukhdeep Dhillon said.
In a statement on Facebook he said: “We are working around the clock each day to provide what we can for the local community and our customers.
“Coming in at 7am and leaving past midnight is what a typical day is looking like for us at the moment and we couldn’t thank our staff enough for pulling together in this difficult time.”
Responding to allegations that prices had risen on some items, the supermarket director admitted that some price increases had been introduced.
“We urge you to remember that we do not have the same capabilities as big chain supermarkets. We are an independent family-run business as you all know, so we have to act in accordance to our suppliers/resources,” he said.
“Wherever possible we have tried our best not to increase prices however due to the economy and inflation in prices at market or supply point we have introduced some increased prices only where necessary. We do not dictate the market and again we don’t gave access to readily available stock like the big chained supermarkets.”
Queues have also been building at major chain supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi.
At Aldi in Priory Road, Dudley, queues were seen trailing outside with some shoppers wearing face masks.
Meanwhile some independent convenience stores have come under fire for raising prices, while Jhoots Pharmacy was criticised after raising the price of paracetamol and Calpol at some of its stores in the Black Country and Birmingham.
High street stores have also seen an influx of people, with many queuing to get in.
Savers, in Bloxwich High Street, was inundated with shoppers on Thursday morning. And Asda, in Wolverhampton, has seen a rise in customers, with one shopper saying it was “busier than Christmas”.
The customer, who asked not to be named, said: “I’ve not been able to get fresh meat, so I’m going to the butchers and other places.
“I’m just going from shop to shop to see what I can get.”
Elaine Hunt, aged 38, from Wolverhampton, was shopping in Asda and added: “I’m just trying to adapt so I can get what I need for my family just so we can eat.
“We only shop usually shop twice a week and we only keep enough food in the house for half a week really, so it’s a bit of a nightmare now trying to just get enough food literally for a few days.
“There’s no things like eggs, no flour, sugar, things like that. I’m trying to get things for the kids that they could do at home when school is shut, so I was thinking they could do some baking, but the store didn’t have things like that left. I did manage to get bread today, so at least I have that.”
Another shopper, who also asked not to be named, said: “Asda’s doing the best it can, but in the first place, I think they should have cut down on what people were taking, and they didn’t.”
Another person, who didn’t want to be identified, said: “It’s all down to people being reasonable and not greedy.
“I didn’t see anyone hoarding anything and I think the rules are starting to be obeyed, but it’s a difficult time.”
