When is the food situation going to sort itself out?

[HouseElfy]

I'm in SE London and all local supermarkets are bare. When can we expect this to be sorted out as surely it is untenable for it to continue?!?!

When the stockpilers realise what they are doing is a waste of time and not necessary. But that may be a while, it's a selfish act so it's safe to assume they don't really care, they knew they shouldn't do it but did anyway. So when they move on to something else to obsess about, things might change

I suspect when the stockpilers get their credit card bills and they realise how much money they now have to pay back. Because I can not believe that normal people have the amount of money to spend that has been spent in the last couple of weeks.

It will probably be better this week. It happened here (Norway) too. Stockpiling only really needs to be done once. So the stockpilers had finished, everyone one else went back to normal shopping.

It happened in France and Spain too, so fingers crossed it'll be okay this week.

Well, we've got about the same amount of fresh food in as we normally do at this time in a regular week, and that will last us for several days at least. My tin cupboard is usually well-stocked anyway, likewise cat food. We might need bread, milk and lettuce, but that's it. So we don't need to go out for anything else at all until about Thursday.

I reckon things will soon start to calm down.

It was okay today where I live - SE.
I got everything in my little list ,except kitchen roll)

It will be ok soon. We had the same here in Spain although nowhere near as bad. As soon as it dawn's this could go on for months and they've got hundreds of pounds worth of stuff to get through , it will stop.

That is reassuring it happened in other countries too. People are just so selfish

I shop for a wheelchair bound frail 94 year old.
Popped into a local supermarket at noon and got her milk, loo rolls, a gluten free ready meal (just one!) and some salad leaves (no tomato). So a bit restrictive, but had also got her some sliced ham from my butchers, so that'll tide her over.

Some of my local supermarkets were a bit patchy during the week, especially last night after the govt announcement. Think each new announcement brings a wave of panic. However, went to the local Aldi this morning and it was completely stocked. Loads of fresh fruit and veggies, protein etc. Only thing that wasn't full was pasta and toilet roll (not unexpected). Hopefully this is the beginning of the return to normality.

Friend lives in Spain, says there was panic buying initially but back to normal now (I think 1-2 weeks).

I think there are alot of people stock piling/panic buying who don't actually realise they are doing it. Maybe we need a definition? Spoke to someone who has bought extra fridge/freezer, now has 2 full up plus jars/can etc. When I tried to discuss 'panic buying' I was met with 'Well I'm not doing it like some people who are taking everything'

I think there are lots of people who have food to last them for 5 years who would probably argue they just have 'a few extra bits in'. Also people who think they are being altruistic by buying extra for friends/families (who have also bought extra).

I definitely noticed an improvement in our supermarket this evening, last week there wasn't any milk or anything but that is stocked up now no meat or pasta though!

Many of the major supermarkets are taking on loads of extra staff, so that should help with shelf-stacking issues I think. I've heard stories of people being interviewed and hired the same day, being told to turn up tomorrow for their first shift. www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51976075

The selfish stockpiling dimwits are now buying up all the alcohol. At least it's not one of the 'bare necessities' but I'm bloody sick of things I buy routinely disappearing. When will it end? Surely people must be running out of space for all this food, and do they all have unlimited money to spend on it?

I watch massive loads going through those tills. Morrison's have stopped trolleys going thro self checkout. Basket only. When people look and count the toilet rolls, tins etc and as someone said got the bills, then it might stop. Some rationing by shops would help. My local booths only allowed 1 of an item from the chilled cabinet. 1 x milk, 1 x yogurt, 1 x box of eggs etc. Drastic but it's made a difference. This won't happen again. The govt and supermarkets will ration if/when the next event comes along. Somewhere someone is watching this as a social experiment. Supermarket chains will have some great data esp from loyalty card holders

Can you drive OP?
I'm in SE London too and my husband went a bit further out today- drove to Welling ASDA and although busy (he was about 15th in the queue for the till) they had a lot of stock.

Sadly not. I was one week off my test but it has been cancelled now.

Aldi on the edge of south London today was still well stocked at 10am. Plenty of Milk, bread, veg and fruit too, even rhubarb - first I’ve found all season!

OP I am so with you, I am also in SE London and I am run ragged from this last week just trying to get the basics, it is insane and so disturbing, never seen scenes like this ever. Whereabouts are you and what are you short of most urgently`?

I had a Tesco delivery arrive today, and it was all there apart from leeks. apparently there's been a run on leeks. Everything else: veg, milk, bread etc was all there. The driver was upset about how many people locally he was delivering to who were ill, he hadn't realised how widespread it was, but said that the deliveries this afternoon had less substitutions or bits missing than he'd had for a few days.

I'm in Lewisham on the borders of Lee and Hither Green. Luckily at the moment I do have relatively well stocked cupboards (from ages ago, I always have tinned food etc in) and flour to make bread, I just cannot get hold of fresh fruit and veg, meat etc.

Unfortunately the scenes that are unfolding in shops are a product of "just in time" stock management. These scenes would definitely still be repeated in any future pandemic, as retailers do not have the warehouse capacity. And it doesn't make financial sense to build a warehouse to supply a surge in demand for an event that might only happen every few decades.
What this is, I believe, is a reminder of the need to be more self-sufficient. I think we will see a lot more interest in growing your own, keeping chickens, baking your own bread etc.

I know it is the wrong side of London OP but Lidl in West Ealing (the one opposite Wilko) are having two deliveries a day. The second one is around 7pm. Got eggs, noodles, beans, coffee, wet toilet tissues, tinned tomatoes, cabbage and a pack of mince.

@HouseElfy have you managed to get some stuff vegetables? Where did you find flour?
I have some links for fruit and veg deliveries available in your area if you are still searching?
Otherwise.... Aldi at Kidbrooke seem to be slowly getting their act together. The Sainsbury's at Lee Green has been consistently empty and I mean empty most of this past week. I have been everywhere you can think of between, Welling, Blackheath, Charlton, Lee & Lewisham. Crayford Sainsbury's eventually got me at least the basics.
If you are stuck at all feel free to message me for links x

It's ok where I am now. Shelves have managed to stay well stocked today.