To ask if you're stockpiling for Brexit...

[Arkos]

Genuinely curious question....
If you are stockpiling for Brexit are you a) making sure you've a free bottle of your favourite wine in just in case it's tricky to obtain and there might be some inconvenience or b) stockpiling enough essentials for months as you are really afraid people will starve.

And if it's b.... what measures have you taken/will take to protect your stash.

No. Stockpiling will lead to the shortages

I started off stockpiling medical supplies like painkillers, anti-histamines, cream, sanpro, etc as well as luxuries like running shoes - got two spare pairs.

I also had an Elemis advent calendar which is my cosmetics stockpile. I also did this because I finish my job next week and until I have built up my freelance work I won't have that much money for fripperies.

And I am now stockpiling certain foods, eg tinned fruit and fish as I think they will be the most useful things . I am sure there will be food, but not necessarily the sort of things I want to eat.

*Anything that comes in via a container port, either from the EU, or via the EU, will not be affected.

How come? How does it get from the container port to the supermarket shelf?*

Because international container ports are already set up for customs clearance, so if something extra is required the systems are already in place. When cleared, goods come off the port onto lorries as normal.

Stockpiling will lead to the shortages

No it doesn't. At the moment there is plenty of everything. As long as people just buy 2-3 extra tins a week there will be no shortages.

Last minute panic stockpiling will led to the issues. A little bit of planning and buying the odd extra item over months will go some way to receiving any last minute issues should they happen.

I understand burying your head in the sand and thinking there won’t be any issues, but the argument that prepping now will lead to issues is mind-boggling.

Ok. I'm obviously really ignorant/naive and admit I haven't any idea about Brexit whatsoever. But why will there be a need to stock up? What's going to happen?

Stockpiling now won't cause shortages. It's the stockpiling in late March that will create problems.

Think about it -you buy extra now and the supermarket can order more as there's no problems. In late March, supermarket can't replenish supplies which will lead to shortages and price rises. The people who bought in January don't contribute to the shortage as they aren't part of the demand in late March.

@Emsonline - no practical deals have been done. For example a lorry can drive goods to Calais but since there's no deal to say that EU driving licenses are valid on UK roads after Brexit, the driver can't drive the lorry to the UK and deliver to the supermarket.

The likeliest issue would be imported fresh fruit and veg replenishment, I guess. So I will make sure I have frozen and tinned in.But we eat those anyway sometimes so all will be used. Salad would be hard to substitute as the kids won't eat grated carrot or coleslaw, but they'd live.

We don't even know if Brexit is going to happen and it takes time for say supermarkets to locate new suppliers. Even if the item itself doesn't come from the EU, a lot is packaged there or replies on raw materials to manufacture for UK use. This is particularly the case for medicines.

No I'm not. No intention of doing so personally. My company is though. It's importing about 6 months' extra product to avoid delays at ports. If lots of other companies do the same, there could actually be a glut of stuff hanging around in warehouses that will need to be shifted when the sky doesn't fall in after March.

...except that warehouse space will also be limited Warehouses don't just expand to accommodate any amount of stuff. They are physical buildings with limited capacity.

I have bought extra loo roll, cartons of passata/chopped tomatoes and a couple of extra bags of pasta. Other stuff - I tend to always keep an unopened packet of anyway and we always have plenty of flour for pizza and pastry. I'm not worried about supplies due to port blockades, I think the problem will be when people start panic buying. The shops will be hellish and I'd rather just be able to avoid them.

Buying extra now means that supermarkets simply order in more to account for increased demand. It also means that, if there are shortages, there will be more available for those who didn't stockpile, as I will have my own supplies.

Last minute panic buying will create shortages - but panic buying and prepping are very, very different.

There is also potential for a panic next week when the government will publish advice for citizens on how to prepare for No Deal of you'd like to avoid the shops next week?

*if

Brexit destruction.

Please don't take this the wrong way. I'm for free speech.

However that link worries me. It says storing fuel in a jerrycan "may be unsafe" and author sounds a bit unsure..

IT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS.

Ignore this dopey author!

Who is Emily Mates?!

@BrexitDestruction - where did you hear that the government will supply no deal information to the public next week? I haven't heard about that, which surprises me.

Still need to fill my freezer so info on which date next week would be helpful

Plus so far I've heard no inkling of any Brexit related fuel shortage from the industry so that part of her advice sounds unfounded.

Generally then to me she seems to be talking a fair wodge of nonsense..

Next Tuesday avocados

Wondering if that will trigger panic buying or not...

No, of course not

Yes - I feel more comfortable knowing that I've got about a month's worth of food/household stuff/cosmetics etc. I hope very much that I won't have to use it and will just have a very cheap April using up the supplies! It's all things I would use at some point anyway - porridge, oat milk, tinned tomatoes, pasta, coffee etc (plus any Christmas chocolate with a decent date on it).

I used to work in a supermarket supply chain, so being very aware of the way it works is what's prompted me to stock up. As PP have said, anything bought now will be factored in to forecasts and replenished while processes are working normally, so stocking up at this point won't cause issues.

If there are issues at ports (and remember this won't just be things 'made in the EU' - lots of things 'made in the UK' have parts from other countries, it just has the final production place on the packaging), more popular products will be run down within days - the shop will have a few days supply, the warehouse will have up to a week(ish) for most things, depending on how popular they are. And for anything fresh not produced in the UK it will be a day or so before it goes, the only fresh stuff held in warehouses is butter/marg and some cheese really.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1067500/brexit-news-no-deal-website-leave-EU-Stephen-Barclay/amp

Do what you feel is right for you and your family. Don’t listen to randoms on the Internet, you don’t know if they’ve got a fucking clue what they’re on about.

No . Don’t really have the space for it . The only reason I can see for buying more than you need of nonperishables is that prices will rise - the food shop has been going up in price for quite some time though but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a somewhat larger jump in cost .