Can't get food, almost in tears

[mabelbagel]

There are two medium sized supermarkets in my town, and both are almost empty whenever I visit. No frozen stuff, no fresh, no eggs, no soya milk (I can't drink cows milk), no bread, no soup. The only thing widely available is snack /junk food and I can't live on that. I've checked the smaller shops in my town and they are also out of stuff. There are no online delivery slots either.

I am still going out to work, so all the people working at home are obviously getting there first. The shops my town are usually adequate but the next supermarket is about 15 miles away as we live in quite a rural area. I don't want to make the trip there if there's no food there either.

Just don't know what to do as it seems the panic buying won't end anytime soon and I'm fast running out of staple food

[mumwon]

I saw a glimpse of something on tv about a transport company - this seemed to be saying that some of the distributing network in Europe including trains are getting erratic - as are ours - this escalates the issues - logically some products from European countries (think Italy & Spain especially) may well be difficult because of transport - so its not all down to people hoarding.
We had to get a store cupboard as we knew that we would be in lockdown & as proven getting deliveries is getting impossible - or very difficult.

[MangePasTesOnglesVilain]

Maybe when this is all over better off people will understand how stressful it is for those who always run out of food by the end of the week/month and have to use food banks.

We do take so much for granted in normal life.

[LaLaLaLa22]

Deliveroo
UberEats
HelloFresh
Dominos

Any of those deliver or are you too rural?

[mumwon]

nb I just got a weeks extra stuff of essentials I was not one of those who vacuumed up everything (I have always kept a small store cupboard fortunately.)

[alloutoffucks]

@mumwon I did the same. I shop every few days normally. So I bought extra when we were told to prepare in case we had to self isolate for 2 weeks. So I did buy that.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

I also bought extra weeks ago. We have a delivery booked for tomorrow. Due to being ill (Poss Coronavirus) we’ve hardly eaten a thing. I’ve offered for a few friends if they want things. But as we are SI So cannot do to the wider community. Feel so bad. But can’t do anything. If I cancel the slot, they won’t give it to someone else!

[ifonly4]

Not sure what time you start work, but I heard a lady saying she queued at her local supermarket at 5.45am before work at 8am . Obviously gaps, but she got things

[daisypond]

Delivery
UberEats
HelloFresh
Dominos
Any of those deliver or are you too rural?

What planet are you on? Who can afford to buy food from these?

[maggiso]

Our local small supermarket has bare fridges and shelves even before work ( I leave early as a rule) . Yesterday I managed to get a pizza, corned beef and tomatoes-also some chocolate eggs-( plenty of choice for Easter eggs) not at all what I went in for but there was nothing healthy. The only meat left was a single slice of steak.
We usually get a recipe and all ingredients box delivery every third week - to make 3 generous main meals. I’ve changed this to every week for now. I figure if we have 3 good meals a week we will survive.
Would ordering a box help? It’s not cheap but tends to be generous so we often have some left overs. We pay just under £50 per box for 3 adult ( plenty for a small family).
I hear the giant Tesco’s will be opening early on Sunday to allow their own staff and nhs staff to fill baskets before the tills open which might be useful for some.

[Portulaca]

We live in a small village and rely on online deliveries. I managed to get an Ocado slot 2 weeks ago for delivery yesterday, so we're ok for now. There are no more slots for the foreseeable. I got a click & collect slot for 2 weeks' time from a Tesco 15 miles away (our only option), which may then have to last us for weeks.

There is a local milk station that is still selling milk & dairy produce. It's worth asking around in fb to see what there is. A local farmer is selling fresh eggs too. And the greengrocer is still well stocked with fresh veg & fruit, again for now. And they're offering to deliver.

A local café is closed but is doing takeaway meals for collection or delivery.

It's worth an ask around to see what there is locally.

It is bad and we don't know what will happen or for how long.

[Openroad]

The supermarkets around me aren't too bad, you can still get fresh fruit and veg and some frozen stuff. But I think the smaller shops are your best bet. It may require going to a few of them but generally I've found they have much better stock and aren't as frantic. Do you have a zero waste store near you? Ours still had heaps of stuff, even pasta, yesterday. The farm shop near us also has plenty of stock.

I really hope you can find some food soon.

[Iusedtobeapartygirl]

Local fruit and veg box deliveries.

Some pubs and restaurants are now selling meals but also ingredients for collection or local delivery.

Farm shops?

[Smellbow]

My mum's having this problem but her local Costcutter is better stocked than the supermarkets. MS Food was pretty well stocked although you have to hunt for the less expensive stuff, as always, but some stuff matches ASDA prices. And might be worth it to get a handful of healthier things to go with what you can actually get in the supermarket, if you can. A local bakery and butcher is also doing deliveries. Try signing on to nextdoor.co.uk and local Facebook groups too, someone local may be able to help.

[Duchessofblandings]

Our local church has started a special support group, specifically for during this crisis. No qualifying criteria except people in need, for whatever reason. Can any churches in your area help?

I dropped a bag of stuff on the doorstep days ago before we started isolating (not currently sick but 12 week vulnerable group) and saw a lot of fresh food too.

Would urge anyone who still has to be out for work and has spare capacity, a can or two, to do what they can.

[minipie]

For soya milk, try health food shops eg Holland & Barrett, if you don’t have one locally then I believe they deliver. Not sure how the cost compares to supermarket though.

[SimplySteveRedux]

Shit here too (North Staffs), doesn't help that both DP and I are disabled and are restricted as such when we can go out - today will be afternoon. DP is immunocompromised too. Not looking forward to it, we have nothing left in now, DPis stressed and money is very low.

[StealthMama]

The small shops have stock in my area, but not the supermarkets. Try spa, co-ops etc local butchers if enough to tier you over till supermarkets calm down in a week or so

[Stellaris22]

@MangePasTesOnglesVilain I hope so. I work in a local Co Op and there's more people donating to food banks, extra baskets being bought just to donate. As staff we love to see such generous and kind people in the community.

[1980sQueen]

It's awful. I'm the same.
Self isolating due to my youngest having underlying health problems.
I'm lucky to have someone kind enough to do my shopping and bring it to the door, but the shops have nothing.
I don't even do a list now. I just say "Get anything you can. What ever is there".

[MartiniDry]

"Maybe when this is all over better off people will understand how stressful it is for those who always run out of food by the end of the week/month and have to use food banks."

Don't be so sure, Mange. An older woman was suggesting on a Facebook page that food banks should stop assisting "those who are fit to work" in favour of providing for the elderly.

My response that numerous food bank recipients are working and still can't afford to eat fell on deaf ears, as did my similar remarks about carers and about lone parents who are fit to work but can't afford childcare.

[Olawisk]

You need to get up early and get there at opening. It’s not hard, there is still loads of food if you actually get up to get it at opening.

Iv been twice in the morning. Once for me and once for my elderly nan! Only thing I couldn’t get was veg lasagna for my nan.

[Kelsoooo]

It's everywhere. I'm sorry to say.

I know it is going to get better.

I'm a manufacturer rep who visits supermarkets, and normally our task is to get additional displays and make sure our stock is on shelf.

Our new task is to go in and support. So 12 of the supermarkets near me will have me twice a week for three hours just stocking shelves/clearing cardboard which means they can work their stock. This is across the country, every little helps and all that.

Also supermarkets are getting their deliveries as normal, wit hextra stock in many cases. As people start self isolating, stock will become available. I know thats not amazing in the short term though.

[daisypond]

You need to get up early and get there at opening. It’s not hard, there is still loads of food if you actually get up to get it at opening.
I did. Before opening. The whole supermarket was bare, apart from a few bits of veg.

[lilmishap]

You need to get up early and get there at opening. It’s not hard, there is still loads of food if you actually get up to get it at opening

I think you're on the wrong thread, this one's for people whose supermarkets ARE bare shelved.
As a side note If my house ever catches fire please don't stop me trying to put out the flames to tell me that your house is NOT on fire and I should just get a house more like yours, it won't help and I might glare at you.

[lilmishap]

I'm bricking it, the government was relying on the EU to provide enough stockpiling foodstuffs that we could get through the predicted Brexit shortages.

Nobody stopped to think "What we gonna do if the EU shuts down too?"