Do we genuinely need to stockpile?

[thunderthighsohwoe]

In light of this morning’s news, I have started to wonder if we genuinely do need to stock up in the event of a no deal Brexit? None of us (touch wood) require any ongoing medication, though 9mo DD has a sensitive tummy when it comes to milk and tolerates HiPP best. I’ve a feeling cows’ milk won’t go down well when she’s 12mo, and was planning to try almond milk or similar as a back up.

Should we be stocking up on HiPP/milk alternatives/Calpol etc?

Luckily we’re just switching to reusable nappies and wipes, so that’s one less thing to think of I guess.

Can I join in the eye rolls towards those who say stockpiling will cause shortages, please? I’ve stockpiled and could probably fill the shelves of a small shop, but I’d rather have extra, than see my children go without. I know I’m not the only one doing it, as many of my clients are too. In my experience, it is my well educated/skilled/travelled clients are the ones most likely to stockpile.

As for it ‘only’ meaning prices going up, that can be the difference between eating or going hungry. I can pay extra, but a good friend of mine has been unable to work for 20yrs due to illness. They use a food bank and also volunteer in it. He would go hungry if it wasn’t for it.

If there are no shortages and I’m proven wrong, then I’ll still have a lovely big larder, full of food, cleaning products, etc, so I don’t have to bother running to the shops. It won’t go to waste.

Operation yellow hammer published at the beginning of this month, leaked in the press made it clear that there are likely to be supply issues. Having extra stuff in now will ease your family over the worst of the supply issues.

Supermarkets do not have the warehouse space for weeks of reserves. Distributing warehouse space across the nation and sharing it between every household in the form of a Brexit cupboard or box is the best way to help to make Brexit run smoothly. It could be seen as your patriotic duty to help your country do well from Brexit. and help your family if it does go tits up win win.

If there are no supply issues in future you will need to do less shopping and will get the money back. If there are supply issues then you have a buffer as shops and people readjust.

No there's no need. We 'll get the same kind of products imported from China and America instead. European sourced products will still be available but a little more expensive

A naive perspective! Just because similar products are produced doesn't mean they are to the same levels of quality, then you need to take into accounts fillers and excipients in medicines which can vary a great deal. There are many folk who cannot tolerate various fillers and rely on brand stability. This is about health vs ill health.

I agree, very naive but the notion that we'll 'just' buy from other countries seems to be very prevalent. At the moment, supermarkets have the just in time arrangement. If we get supply disruption from the moment we crash out (if we do and it's looking more likely now) is it really feasable that we will get the same seamless supply from elsewhere, within a matter of hours? Hardly!!
Likewise our home produced food. How the hell are the shops suddenly going to be full of that? For a start, we only produce 40% of the food we eat. Not to mention the logistics of getting it around the country.
Saying we'll just eat home produced food is massively simplistic.

We don’t need trade deals to import, they just give preferential tariffs, you do need permissions but that’s different.

We can still import and will from the EU it’s jusy the tariffs will be excruciatingly high as we go onto world trade tariffs.

But the supermarkets make up to 30% margins on some of this stuff so margins will be cut before prices increase.

It’s fresh stuff where margins are tiny that are the issue, so fruit and veg, and we are lacking pickers due to BREXIT labour issues. You can’t stockpile fresh anyway!

If you really want to eat meat produced under rural Chinese food standards, go ahead with that.
There is a reason the EU blocks food trade deals with people like China and the USA - STANDARDS

China is a net importer of Pork at the moment because its just had to slaughter 150,000,000 diseased pigs

The "we can get food from elsewhere" argument kind of misses the nature of the anticipated problems.

People are concerned that there will be shortages because of a backup of lorries carrying food at ports, leading to gridlock on some roads, as a consequence of customs problems. Some predictions suggest this might last as long as 3 months. This is not some pie-in-the-sky fear: it is based on serious models and trials.

The food will still be in the lorries. The problem is not one of supply, but of logistics: the lorry full of food cannot get to its destination. The result could well be that there are unexpected, unpredictable shortages of some foods.

A lorry from outside the EU will not be able to grow fins and swim across the channel. It will be stuck in the same jam, and will face the same problems.

Plenty of bingo opportunities here @TheElementsSong

Even if you don't feel you need to stockpile food, it is probably worth thinking about what you would really miss if it were gone/in short supply. I have a few packets of sanitary towels and am making sure we have plenty of loo roll. Medication. Cosmetics/toiletries you like and would miss. Anything else you would miss - in my case, coffee, wine and chocolate.

The thing that is beginning to worry me now is the stuff you can't plan for, like something breaking down and parts not being available. Could be your car, and it can't be fixed. Or the washing machine. But it's probably no point worrying about it unless it happens.

I agree with you Crunchy, whether cheap or expensive, I do not want the Chlorinated scraps off Trump's table and I WILL NOT buy them

I am going to do a bit of stockpiling in the next few weeks because I have been party to mass hysteria and panic over food etc. before and it is very unpleasant. I lived in HK during the SARS crisis and the supermarkets were picked clean for weeks. Its a vicious circle as soon as something runs low, everyone panics and rushes to smash and grab whatever they can.

I'll buy more stuff in but only so I don't have to get all stressed out if there is a run on the supermarkets.

Well I am an unashamed and unapologetic stasher, and have spaced my stashing out over the course of many weeks (I started in late January!). If you haven't made any preparations and then things go south, don't come to me looking for any sympathy or handouts!!

No there's no need. We 'll get the same kind of products imported from China and America instead. European sourced products will still be available but a little more expensive.
See how informed people are? See how they understand about supply chains and trading with countries outside the EU? Bloody brilliant, isn't it?

I need to convince DH.

See how informed people are? See how they understand about supply chains and trading with countries outside the EU? Bloody brilliant, isn't it? hmm

But if the shops are out of stock they can just buy it online. (Someone fuckwit actually posted this, think it was on the bbc.)

Ah actually I remember a time when our village was cut off for a week due to the 2010 snowmageddon - the village shop couldn’t get any stock (large well-situated village but on top of a steep hill) so we ran out of loo roll on day 2. DH was a retained firefighter in the village at time so I may have purloined some from the fire station while they were out attending RTAs....

Ok, I won’t panic but I’ll definitely make sure DD has milk, Calpol, breadsticks etc and us things like loo roll, toothpaste, washing powder. My dad lives next door and has a massive cellar so I may utilise that!

I saw an article in the Times Business section last week. It suggested that stockpiling was a "patriotic duty". Supermarkets do not have enough warehouse space to store enough food to tide us over the likely logistical problems of a no deal Brexit - people stockpiling what they can now will make everyone's lives easier come November.

Incidentally, I just found out you can buy frozen avocado! Who knew.

@Thunder I am so pleased we brought you over to the dark side

i'm reassessing whether i have enough - was prepared to get over a short period of supply-chain-disruption and price rises but if civil unrest gets added in...

My mum has only been able to get 3 months of HRT where she normally gets 12 and my pill has been unavailable since june, had to switch to another one x

What is the downside of stockpiling? From what I can see there isn't one, aside perhaps being considered "silly" by some.

If there are no shortages post-Brexit you can just use up the stockpiled food over a few months and have reduced shopping costs for a while.

If there are shortages, you've got what you need.

If there are no shortages post-Brexit you can just use up the stockpiled food over a few months and have reduced shopping costs for a while.

That’s basically what I did with the March supplies.

Just done an online shop. Extra loo roll, rice and wine.

I don’t think there’s any shortfall, but unfortunately there’s people who can’t afford to do it, haven’t got the space to do it, and most importantly can’t stockpile medicines (not all types, at least)
As long as it’s a free choice, by all means, I’m a fan. I can even take the risks of a weevil invasion in my cupboards.
When it becomes a way to desperately try to prepare for a health hazard, then I’m not a fan. I’m furious....(luckily nobody in my family needs medication. But. It’s not fair, not even on one single person.)

Firms in the US and or anywhere else aren't just sitting there waiting for Asda to put an order in!
They have their own customers long term contracts to fulfill, its stupid to think we will just it from somewhere else.

Prices aren't going to go up a little, they'll go up a lot, tariffs and profiteering will see to that.

I'll be buying up as much as poss over the next couple of weeks

I’ve filled my pantry, cupboards and freezers, which is stockpiling.
Despite this, neither of my local supermarkets seem to be short of any of the items I’ve purchased...yet.
If November and December glide past with no problems or shortages, I’ll be absolutely delighted and use up my stock accordingly.